Angrily complaining at the screen during football matches is probably something that every football fan has gone through before.
As an avid football fan myself, it’s understandable that fans get frustrated watching matches, especially if the opposing team seems to be playing dirty.
What’s not understandable, is getting so angry to the point of sending death threats to a player and his family.
What Happened?
On Wednesday (7 July), a Singaporean teenager was sentenced to nine months probation for sending death threats to English Premier League (EPL) football player Neal Maupay and the sportsman’s family members.
19-year-old Derek Ng De Ren had pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment earlier. Two other similar charges were considered during sentencing.
Ng’s mother was bonded for $5,000 to ensure his good behaviour.
How did everything come about?
It all started on 20 June last year, when football player Mr Maupay, a 23-year-old forward with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, scored the winning goal against Arsenal Football Club in an English Premier League (EPL) match.
The same match saw Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno having to be carried off the pitch after injuring his knee during a tussle with Mr Maupay.
As Deputy Public Prosecutor Jeremy Bin told District Judge May Mesenas: “The accused watched the match… in his grandmother’s home in Singapore.
“The accused, an Arsenal supporter, was angered by the victim’s goal and Arsenal FC’s (Football Club) loss. He also blamed the victim for the Arsenal goalkeeper’s injury,” added DPP Bin.
Teenager Sent Death Threats Through Social Media
What do you do when your favourite football team fails to win a match due to what you see as dirty play from the opposing team?
Most people would probably just rant on social media about the opposing team, and add in a few beers here and there.
In Ng’s case, he decided to send death threats to Mr Maupay.
Using social media platform Instagram, Ng sent threatening messages to Mr Maupay using an anonymous account.
In one message four days after the match, Ng wrote: “You think you will get away for injuring Leno? No way in hell bruv… But don’t worry you will be safe you won’t be hurt.”
“It’s more fun watching you feel pain when your loved ones go through suffering,” the message also said.
See kids?
This is why you’re taught to think before acting on the internet—so you don’t send death threats to innocent people, and somehow think that it’s justified.
The following day, Ng sent Mr Maupay another message, this time abusing him with vulgar language. He then sent another message on 26 June last year, telling Mr Maupay that “Your family will be attacked later in the day, just watch.”
Mr Maupay’s Response
Mr Maupay did not respond to the messages and instead reported the incident to EPL’s online abuse reporting system, the court heard.
Ng’s anonymous account was then blocked by Instagram.
Instead of stopping there, Ng simply created a new anonymous Instagram account on 1 July last year and continued his threatening messages to Mr Maupay.
Sending Mr Maupay another message, Ng said: “You think by reporting my account you’re safe? I will kill you and your family.”
So…who’s gonna break it to him that using an “anonymous account” doesn’t actually mean anything because things like tracking IP addresses is super easy?
Following an investigation, an EPL representative in Singapore then alerted the Singapore police on 11 August last year, who apprehended Ng.
Believing Ng’s threats to be legitimate and credible, Mr Maupay had felt distressed as a result of his messages, said DPP Bin in court.
“The victim and his family did not leave their home as far as possible, for fear of being attacked,” added DPP Bin.
One charged with harassment can be sentenced to up to six months’ jail and fined up to $5,000 for every count.
Featured Image: Instagram (@nealmaupay)