Bowen could face FA sanctions

The Football Association has confirmed it is aware of the historic racist term Jarrod Bowen used in a tweet published in 2012 when he was just 15.

Bowen’s historic social media post came to light on the platform on Thursday. The West Ham United winger has since apologised for his use of the word.

Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury was fined £5,000 in 2019 and ordered to attend an education course by the FA for “hurtful and offensive” comments he posted on social media.

In September 2016, Watford striker Andre Gray was handed a four-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute over homophobic posts he made on Twitter in 2012. Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Gray was also fined £25,000, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an FA education course.

While not condoning what Bowen said banning or fining Bowen could create a dangerous precedence with rival football fans digging up any post from footballers in their childhood on Twitter, Facebook or other social media platforms.