Middlesbrough defender charged by FA for offensive tweet sent when he was 14

He sent the tweet when he was 14

The FA have charged Middlesbrough defender Marc Bola for an offensive tweet sent in 2012, when he was 14 years of age. The tweet is said to have contained reference to sexual orientation. A statement from the FA read: "Middlesbrough FC's Marc Bola has been charged with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a social media post on 14 April 2012. It is alleged that this post is insulting and/or abusive and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1 "It is further alleged that this post constitutes an "aggravated breach", which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference to sexual orientation. "The defender has until 20 September 2021 to provide his response to this charge." https://twitter.com/FAspokesperson/status/1433822172963876864 While football has a long way to go in combatting homophobia within the game, it is debatable as to whether charging players for tweets they sent in their early adolescence is the most productive way of doing so. JOE recently spoke to Proud Canaries' Di Cunningham about homophobia in football in light of the homophobic chants aimed at Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour from Liverpool fans. Watch the interview below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeHimJUkyCs