Student Faces Jail for Sending Racist Slur to Bukayo Saka in Social Media Audio Message

A law student who directed a vile racial slur at Arsenal star Bukayo Saka in an online tirade is facing jail time.

According to The Sun, 20-year-old Arsenal supporter Suhel Ali posted an audio message targeting Saka on X.

In the message, Ali is heard using offensive language, including calling Saka a “f***ing black piece of s**t.”

Ali also referred to Saka as “the s***test winger I’ve ever seen at my club,” used the N-word to describe the England international, and insulted him further by saying, “You’re a monkey – you’re a f***ing monkey.”

The outburst occurred shortly after Arsenal’s defeat to Nottingham Forest on May 20, 2023, a result that sealed Arsenal’s failure to secure the Premier League title as Manchester City emerged as champions.

Suhel Ali, from Wembley and a student at City University in London, admitted to sending the offensive message.

District Judge Briony Clarke granted Ali bail until October 8, stating, “I’m not going to sentence you today, but I am not ruling anything out.”

Ali’s mother assisted police in locating his IP address and provided his email address.

At Westminster magistrates’ court, it was revealed that Ali admitted in a police interview that he sent the voice note out of frustration.

Ali’s lawyer, Robert Moxon, noted that both Ali and Saka share Nigerian heritage. Moxon explained that while Ali used the N-word, he intended it in an offensive manner rather than a racial one.

When questioned about Ali’s use of the term “monkey,” Moxon clarified that it was meant to imply that Bukayo Saka was being portrayed as foolish. Moxon added, “He was simply expressing some really foolish, offensive remarks about how a footballer played.”