Port Vale striker Tom Pope apologises for Rothschild tweet as FA investigation looms

Tom Pope, the Port Vale forward, has apologised for a tweet he sent several hours after scoring in his club’s FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester City.

Responding to a request to predict the course of a hypothetical Third World War, Mr Pope tweeted: “We invade Iran then Cuba then North Korea then the Rothchilds [sic] are crowned champions of every bank on the planet – the end.” The tweet has since been deleted.

After being warned by other Twitter users that his tweet could be construed as racist, he said: “I mentioned them owning the banks which is fact and now I’m facing all this,” adding: “How is it racist?? Seriously is someone out to destroy me or what?”

It is understood that the FA has considered launching an investigation, as is Mr Pope’s Port Vale club.

However, Port Vale has now published a statement from Mr Pope that states: “Following the reaction to my response on Twitter about the Rothschilds, I was unaware of any link between the Rothchild (sic) family and the Jewish community. If I have caused offence to anyone, I’d like to apologise enormously as this was never my intention.”