Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Log In

Create new account

Brickbats

Brickbat: Don't Say That

Charles Oliver | 10.7.2021 4:00 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
shush_1161x653 | Phovoir / Dreamstime.com
(Phovoir / Dreamstime.com)

A British court has sentenced Simon Sillwood to eight weeks in jail for racially abusing online a player for the West Bromwich Albion soccer team. Sillwood, a fan of the team, was upset after it lost a shutout to Manchester City. He posted on a Facebook group that midfielder Romaine Sawyers, who is black, should receive the "Baboon d'Or" award, a reference to Balloon d'Or trophy awarded annually to the best soccer player. Sawyers told the court he felt "harassed, alarmed and distressed" after reading the post. Sillwood claimed he meant to post "buffoon" but misspelled it "bafoon" and autocorrect changed it to "baboon."

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Biden to GOP: 'Get Out of the Way, So You Don't Destroy' the Country

Charles Oliver is a contributing editor at Reason.

BrickbatsHate SpeechEnglandSentencingJailRacismSports
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (83)

Latest

Brickbat: Hard Labor

Charles Oliver | 7.10.2026 4:00 AM

'Scrap It and Start All Over': Ex-Bush and Obama Officials Say the War on Terror's Powers Have Gone Too Far

Billy Binion | 7.9.2026 5:35 PM

Pronatalists Want To Boost Fertility With Blue Laws and Government-Enlisted Fertility Influencers

Meagan O'Rourke | 7.9.2026 4:35 PM

The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History, by the Numbers

Matt Welch | 7.9.2026 1:20 PM

Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Marks a Pattern of Trying To Profit From the Presidency

Jacob Sullum | 7.9.2026 1:20 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reason's July 4 Special!

For America's 250th, Get 2 Years of Reason for $17.76

Celebrate your independence with a subscription to Reason magazine, your most trusted source of honest, insightful news and analysis.

Subscribe to Reason