A South Cumbrian internet troll and court worker who told a Premier League star I hope your family dies — and branded him a slave — has been banned from attending professional football matches for three years.
Liverpool fan Harry Brown, 25, of Maple Street, Barrow, used direct Instagram messages to target Brazilian-born Fulham player Rodrigo Muniz on two different dates during the 2024-25 season.
Brown sent racist abuse to the centre forward after he had scored goals in home and away matches against Liverpool.
On Saturday December 14 2024, Mr Muniz netted for Fulham against Liverpool in a 2-2 Premier League draw on Merseyside.
Following the end of that fixture, the player received several direct messages from Brown which stated “f****** slave”, “hope your family dies” and also “hope your family gets hurt”.
Mr Muniz did not report the messages at that time. “I just tried to ignore them,” he later told police.
Mrs Jackson said: “It was as a result of him scoring against Liverpool. The defendant is a Liverpool fan.”
On April 6 2025, Brown sent two more direct messages after Mr Muniz played — and scored — again as Fulham beat Liverpool 3-2 in a return league game.
One contained a monkey emoji and Brown used the word “slave” again.
Mr Muniz screenshotted the offensive content, reported it to his club and police were alerted.
“The defendant was then arrested at his place of work, which was Barrow Magistrates’ Court,” prosecutor Diane Jackson told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today.
At the time, Brown worked for firm GEOAmey in the Barrow court cells.
In a statement, Mr Muniz had said: “I was disgusted and offended by these comments and it is my opinion that the monkey emoji and using the term ‘slave’ was sent as a racial insult due to my heritage. Also wishing for my family to be hurt or die is grossly offensive.
“My family still live in Brazil but makes the comments worse,” the player also stated. “I had no previous interaction with this account before the messages.”
Brown admitted sending an offensive electronic communication to Mr Muniz on two separate occasions, for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety. The charges were brought under the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
Brown — a man of previous good character — fully admitted his criminal conduct when interviewed by police.
During a sentencing hearing, defence solicitor Trystan Roberts, mitigating, said Brown was utterly and thoroughly ashamed of himself.
“He has made a very, very foolish error, on two occasions, when his temper, his anger and emotions got the better of him. He has hit out in a way which is, in hindsight, was disgusting,” added the solicitor.
Brown received a 12-month community order. He must complete probation service rehabilitation work and 150 hours’ community service.
He was also given a three-year banning order which prevents him attending Premier League, Football League and England matches for three years.
“Rodrigo Muniz Carvalho is entitled to go about his lawful business without being threatened, racially abused and have his own family threatened by you,” Brown was told by district judge Philip Holden. “What you did was to engage in tribal behaviour of a racist nature.”
After the sentencing, Chief Inspector Kim Brown, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We stand against racism and condemn the vile abuse which Brown sent to Mr Muniz.
“Hate crime, in person or online, is never acceptable and you cannot hide behind a social media profile to post these despicable comments.
” With the support of Mr Muniz, we have pursued this case to hold Brown accountable for his actions.
“There is simply no place for this in society, and we will continue to bring offenders to justice.
“I want to commend Mr Muniz for his strength to stand up and speak out. I also want to thank the Premier League, the UK Football Policing Unit and Cumbria police’s dedicated football officers for their determination to this investigation.
“They worked together to gather the evidence, identify the social media account and the person behind it, before locating and arresting him. I want to reassure any person out there who is subject to this level of racist abuse, that we will listen and we will seek to take action.”
