Racism now spreads to U15 football in Leicestershire *shocked face*

[Darkon84]

The title says it all really, with the article below. Make of it what you will, though the general reaction seems to be its basically bull. Good to see 'The Society of Black Lawyers' wading in again. Shouldnt they be focusing on the major case of 'lost in translation' with Chelsea vs Clattenberg?

http://www.thisislei...tail/story.html

Police are investigating allegations that teenage footballers were racially abused by opposition supporters during a match.

Leicester Nirvana FC claims some spectators made monkey noises and offensive gestures during an under-15s game at Blaby and Whetstone BC FC.

The club also said some home team supporters made racist comments and invaded the pitch, threatening violence, after the game, which the visitors won 4-3.

Leicester Nirvana chairman Kirk Master, who was not at the match – played on October 21 – was told about the alleged incident by players, coaches and parents.

He said: "The matters outlined to me are the most graphic I have been made aware of for many years at a junior level. I am disgusted.

"We demand firm and swift action from the FA. We want some immediate action taken. The club has held an emergency meeting to discuss the matter."

The Leicester Nirvana team was mainly made up of black and Asian youngsters.

The club, many of whose players come from Highfields and St Matthew's, in Leicester, has 300 members and draws players from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Mr Master said the club would "not allow racist behaviour to occur against our players, parents or any other black and minority ethnic person citywide".

He is due to hold meetings with the football authorities in Leicester and is seeking assurances the matter will be dealt with quickly and transparently.

The club is being supported by the Society of Black Lawyers. Spokesman, barrister David Neita, said: "Blaby and Whetstone should be suspended from the FA pending a full inquiry due to the seriousness of these allegations.

"We will be making a full report to the minister of sport after meeting Nirvana FC."

Keith Murdoch, chief executive of Leicestershire and Rutland County FA, said no action could be taken until a full investigation had been carried out.

He said: "These are serious allegations coming from a local under-15s match.

"There is an ongoing investigation and we are still gathering information from both clubs and the referee."

Mr Murdoch said the FA would be co-operating with the police investigation. "As yet, it is not possible to put a timescale on the investigation we are conducting," he said.

A spokesman at the headquarters of the English FA, at Wembley, said the national body was aware of the incident but it was an issue with the local FA to deal with.

He said wider issues would be considered if the FA received representations from the Society of Black Lawyers.

A spokesman for Blaby and Whetstone Boys Club said: "We are aware of an allegation against our partner club, Blaby and Whetstone Youth Football, concerning issues of racism at a recent game.

"Leicestershire and Rutland County Football Association has contacted us and until such time as its investigations are complete, we are unable to comment further, apart from saying we will co-operate fully.

"As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting all efforts to eliminate racism within society."

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "We have received a report relating to a racist incident at a football match in Whetstone on October 21. Inquiries are ongoing."

[MooseBreath]

If this doesn't highlight the folly of making a big deal out of tiny race issues at a national level then I don't know what will.

Well done Ferdinands. Great job.

[Mark_w]

So would you two rather they didn't try to combat racism...?

[Soar Fox]

I'm not being funny but when I used to play against Leicester Nirvana when I was younger they were a horrible team. We were spat at, swore at, called white ba**ards, numerous occasions they were calling our mums who were watching bitches.

And Kirk Masters he's no better himself. Played against him in a final 4 years ago when he was at Premier Sports he ended up getting sent off for punching one of our players and threatening behaviour. We scored a last minute winner in extra time and he came running on the pitch and started on one of our players again. Horrible vile man

[purpleronnie]

I'm not being funny but when I used to play against Leicester Nirvana when I was younger they were a horrible team. We were spat at, swore at, called white ba**ards, numerous occasions they were calling our mums who were watching bitches.

And Kirk Masters he's no better himself. Played against him in a final 4 years ago when he was at Premier Sports he ended up getting sent off for punching one of our players and threatening behaviour. We scored a last minute winner in extra time and he came running on the pitch and started on one of our players again. Horrible vile man

so whats your point?

[Darkon84]

So would you two rather they didn't try to combat racism...?

Im saying that the way in which they are trying to combat it, and the way that some people have gone about it, may have had the opposite effect.

Where the standard view is that seeing John Terry saying something on TV will encourage racism...maybe the alternative view is now the stronger one....People see they can play the race card and get away with it. Its the only crime where you are guilty until proven innocent.

[Soar Fox]

so whats your point?

I wouldn't believe everything they say.

[Mark_w]

Its the only crime where you are guilty until proven innocent.

Well legally that's not true and I'd suggest there are plenty of crimes that will lead to people pre-judging the accused. It may not be perfect, but you can't do nothing when a 14 year old black footballer may well be being racially abused by adult spectators, of course legal action should be taken. You don't know these people are innocent, yet you seem to have a problem with the fact that it's being investigated at all.

[ADK]

Name calling shouldn't be a criminal offence.

[purpleronnie]

Name calling shouldn't be a criminal offence.

Are you including racist remarks in that statement?

[Narborough_fox]

I know a couple of the players in the Blaby team and they were all saying how disgusted they were to be dragged into this when it was supporters who did it.

[Libertine Dream]

One of our team members got called the milky bar kid throughout a game against Highfields a few years ago, whenever I played Nirvana and Highfields then they said a lot of things demeaning white people and this was youth level. Doesnt make it right but they often give it aswell

[purpleronnie]

One of our team members got called the milky bar kid throughout a game against Highfields a few years ago, whenever I played Nirvana and Highfields then they said a lot of things demeaning white people and this was youth level. Doesnt make it right but they often give it aswell

Then they should have registered a complaint.

[Darkon84]

Well legally that's not true and I'd suggest there are plenty of crimes that will lead to people pre-judging the accused. It may not be perfect, but you can't do nothing when a 14 year old black footballer may well be being racially abused by adult spectators, of course legal action should be taken. You don't know these people are innocent, yet you seem to have a problem with the fact that it's being investigated at all.

Well done captain obvious, the part you highlighted is, of course not legally true, but the point still stands. I have no problem with it being investigated at all, have just heard from some people around that club that its not entirely as it seems. It doesnt help how the entire article has been loaded incredibly one sided.

May I add, I would rather the whole story be found to be nothing more than misunderstandings. Racism has no part in todays society, or sport, and to see it at youth football level would be distgusting

[ADK]

Are you including racist remarks in that statement?

Yes.

[purpleronnie]

Yes.

so you condone racism?

That's weird.

[Mark_w]

Well done captain obvious.

Hence the rest of that sentance.

the point still stands. I have no problem with it being investigated at all, have just heard from some people around that club that its not entirely as it seems. It doesnt help how the entire article has been loaded incredibly one sided.

It's really not, it clearly states that these are just allegations and includes a statement from the accused team.

Yes.

You're a twat.

[ADK]

I don't condone racism, i just disagree with the way we treat it at the moment.

[Mark_w]

I don't condone racism, i just disagree with the way we treat it at the moment.

You don't condone it, you just don't think it's a crime...?

[ADK]

You don't condone it, you just don't think it's a crime...?

Pretty much. Not in itself.

[Mark_w]

Pretty much. Not in itself.

You don't think making it legal to racially abuse people might make the problem a bit worse then?

[Mattthefox]

I play under 15 football every Sunday and niverna are the most racist team in the county. It appears that they can call you whatever they want to and you cant reply. Played them last season on rememberance day and they just talked through the 2 mins silence.

[Mark_w]

I play under 15 football every Sunday and niverna are the most racist team in the county. It appears that they can call you whatever they want to and you cant reply. Played them last season on rememberance day and they just talked through the 2 mins silence.

Well you can, by making an official complaint.

[ADK]

You don't think making it legal to racially abuse people might make the problem a bit worse then?

I'm not sure of the law but you can be committing a crime by abusing someone regardless of what offensive language you use. I wouldn't make racial abuse a special case though. We really need to get over it by not giving it more attention than it deserves.

[Corky]

I play under 15 football every Sunday and niverna are the most racist team in the county. It appears that they can call you whatever they want to and you cant reply. Played them last season on rememberance day and they just talked through the 2 mins silence.

Why didn't you report them?