A Championship footballer said he felt "numb" after reading a racist fan's comment about him on WhatsApp.
Walsall Magistrates' Court heard West Bromwich Albion's Romaine Sawyers became aware of it after the team was beaten 5-0 by Manchester City,
Prosecutor Simon Brownsey said Simon Silwood, 50, of Kingswinford, intentionally sought to make a racist pun about the player.
Silwood admitted being the source but denied racism, blaming autocorrect.
But in court that was rejected, and he was found guilty of sending a racial slur.
In opening the case, Mr Brownsey said the midfielder - currently on loan at Stoke City - became aware of the content after speaking to police to report racial abuse on Instagram.