Mason Holgate receives formal warning over homophobic tweet allegations

The Football Association issued a formal warning to Mason Holgate on Friday following allegations that he posted homophobic tweets while on Barnsley's books in 2012.

The Everton defender, 21, has also been "directed to undertake a mandatory FA inclusion programme" as a result of the tweets he apparently posted when he was 15.

The posts were reported in the wake of Holgate accusing Liverpool's Roberto Firmino of racial abuse during January's Merseyside derby in the FA Cup. The Brazilian was acquitted of those charges last month due to insufficient evidence, and Everton followed the decision by pledging to "continue to offer the full support of the club to Mason and will make no further comment."

Related: Firmino avoids punishment for Holgate's racial abuse claim

Holgate deleted his Twitter account when his apparent homophobic submissions emerged.

There is a precedent for punishment relating to old use of social media. In 2016, Watford striker Andre Gray was given a four-match ban and fined £25,000 for homophobic tweets he sent when he was plying his trade in non-league football.