Middlesbrough's Marc Bola charged by FA over social media post he made when he was 14

Middlesbrough youngster Marc Bola was charged for a social media post in 2012, at 14 years old, which made ‘a reference to sexual orientation’ that ‘is insulting and/or abusive and/or improper’

Posted Saturday, September 04, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Middlesbrough defender Marc Bola has been charged by the FA over a social media that he made at 14 years old.

The 23-year-old, who was part of Arsenal’s academy before moving north in 2018, was charged regarding a post that “is insulting and/or abusive and/or improper”, according to English football’s governing body.

While they also said that the post from nine years ago made “a reference to sexual orientation”.

It refers to a social media post made on April 14 2012, when the left-back was still a teenager.

A statement from the FA reads: "Middlesbrough'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.

Middlesbrough star Marc Bola has been charged by the FA for a social media post he made at 14 years old

"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."

Bola has been at the Riverside Stadium since 2019, breaking into the squad last season after a loan spell at former club Blackpool before heading to his current side.

The Championship side also released a statement saying: “Middlesbrough Football Club are aware of an FA charge against Marc Bola with regard to comments made on social media when he was 14-years-old.

"The matter is the subject of FA disciplinary process and no further comment will be made at this time."

Bola started his career at Premier League side Arsenal at 13 years old, working up the academy but failing to make a senior appearances.

After loan spells at Notts County and Bristol Rovers, he was released by the Gunners at the end of the 2017/18 season before getting snapped up by Blackpool.

Bola's representatives declined to comment when contacted by Reach PLC.