Racism allegation - The Athletic
The Football Association is investigating after a child alleged that he had been subjected to bullying and discriminatory abuse in Cardiff City’s academy.
The Athletic can reveal that a young footballer, aged below 14, has alleged that instances of racism took place on a minibus while travelling to an away match. The child has told an FA investigation that his own team-mates are the alleged perpetrators. The young boy himself gave evidence to the FA investigators over a Zoom call.
The child, who is no longer training with the academy after becoming unhappy in the environment, is of Middle Eastern heritage. He told FA investigators that he heard monkey noises and that team-mates also rubbed bananas into his clothes. The FA investigators also heard alleged that staff failed to respond in a satisfactory manner and clamp down on the abuse. Indeed, it is claimed the alleged victim was told to get on with it and clean it up himself by a staff member who first heard the complaint at the time. The young player and his family are being supported by the anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
The player has currently dropped out of the club’s academy and returned to grassroots football, although he does sometimes train at satellite facilities owned by the club.
In a statement to The Athletic on Wednesday evening, a Cardiff City director said: “We can confirm that we are aware a complaint has been made to the FA regarding an alleged instance of racist behaviour and bullying between children whom were enrolled in the Club’s academy.”
The club confirmed that the allegations date back to events in 2018 but argue that the claims around racism have only surfaced in recent months. The club say they were aware of complaints about the player’s treatment in their academy but insist that “no staff or coaches were involved.”
Following the player’s initial complaints, the director says that the club’s academy and education department “thoroughly investigated the matter at the time.” The Cardiff director added: “A meeting was convened with all the players from the group and their parents/guardians at which point the Club’s code of practice and standards were reiterated. This was followed by an educational presentation.”
Now, however, the child and his guardians have escalated the complaint by reporting allegations of racism, as well the aforementioned alleged bullying, to the FA.
There is also understood to be a dispute between the player’s family and the club over his right to register at a different club after leaving Cardiff. In accordance with Football League regulations, Cardiff are alleged to be insisting on compensation payments for any players who leave in his youth age group to sign for different clubs. The guardians in question believe Cardiff should waive the right to compensation as the club is alleged to have failed to provide a safe environment for their child.
The Cardiff director continued: “No complaint of discrimination was raised by the player or his guardians at the time. The complaint has been made by the player’s guardians to the FA nearly three years after the event and following a meeting with the club at which the club confirmed it would agree to release the player and that it would not relinquish its entitlement to training compensation should the player wish to join another club.”
Cardiff say they are prepared to “engage” with any club who wishes to sign the player but also claim the player’s guardians said previously that they did not wish to re-enter elite football until the player turns 16.
The Cardiff academy has been beset by issues in recent years. A Cardiff statement in March revealed the club had launched “a comprehensive investigation into non-recent allegations of bullying and poor practice relating to the club’s academy”. This step preceded the allegations of racism that can now be reported.
In March, the Daily Mail newspaper reported that the club’s academy manager James McCarthy had been one of those suspended as the club confirmed two staff members had been stood down while the internal process was carried out. The club’s safeguarding officer Rob Cronick, a former detective chief inspector with South Wales Police, is tasked with conducting a second investigation, over which the FA and EFL retain a level of oversight. This is separate to the FA’s investigation into the allegations of racism.
Cardiff’s academy had previously been criticised when former Wales captain and Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy stepped down from his position as their under-18s coach in January 2019. The club had investigated a bullying claim against Bellamy and others. Bellamy denied the allegations made against him. The club’s investigation flagged “a number of significant concerns” and concluded that academy players faced an “unacceptable coaching environment” at the club. The club’s findings did not name individual staff members in its conclusions.
The FA is unable to officially comment on the details while an investigation is ongoing.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
****ing hell this club is becoming dodgy…
First their reaction to My City, My Shirt, then this! And to a kid as well!
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
The **** is going on in the academy? Disgraceful
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Oh dear - this seems to hark back to the Bellamy era.
Still, this bit is interesting....
"The complaint has been made by the player’s guardians to the FA nearly three years after the event and following a meeting with the club at which the club confirmed it would agree to release the player and that it would not relinquish its entitlement to training compensation should the player wish to join another club.”
In other words, they're trying to secure a better deal by trashing the club. As if it's not been trashed enough already.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
So they changed their complaint from bullying to discrimination 3 years later. Bit weird.
Undoubtedly been some issues down there though, are other clubs swamped by as many bullying allegations within their academies? Don't see why it would be an issue just here.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
The FA is unable to officially comment on the details while an investigation is ongoing.
Probably best to take a lead from the English FA on this one. However, there will be people who will have read the headline and won't read any follow up so club has to re-double its efforts to show having the environment it should have.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
You cannot stop kids being stupid if it is adults, usually their parents who have taught them how to be so .
If we assume this has happened the key is the clubs response to it
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
adz-a32
****ing hell this club is becoming dodgy…
First their reaction to My City, My Shirt, then this! And to a kid as well!
the what? whats this about?
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Llandaff Blue
the what? whats this about?
A black cardiff city fan painted various murals in South Cardiff of Black cardiff city fans , wanted the club involved , they said it was reverse racism .
Total shit houses
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SLUDGE FACTORY
A black cardiff city fan painted various murals in South Cardiff of Black cardiff city fans , wanted the club involved , they said it was reverse racism .
Total shit houses
In fairness, i did feel misrepresented when i saw the art work, what with me being a white working class bloke and all that.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tuerto
In fairness, i did feel misrepresented when i saw the art work, what with me being a white working class bloke and all that.
Bloody blacks , coming over here , taking our shirts
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
adz-a32
****ing hell this club is becoming dodgy…
First their reaction to My City, My Shirt, then this! And to a kid as well!
So you are automatically assuming that its all true then. Funny that - I got the totally opposite view from reading the OP, where it appears to me the club acted quickly and properly at the time the incident took place. Assuming that the story actually happened as described of course. It wouldn't be the first time that a media outlet had concocted a story to make its own headlines. There appear to be people with agendas against the club involved here.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
tforturton
Oh dear - this seems to hark back to the Bellamy era.
Still, this bit is interesting....
"The complaint has been made by the player’s guardians to the FA nearly three years after the event and following a meeting with the club at which the club confirmed it would agree to release the player and that it would not relinquish its entitlement to training compensation should the player wish to join another club.”
In other words, they're trying to secure a better deal by trashing the club. As if it's not been trashed enough already.
First thing that popped into my head was maybe tapped up.
Although it seems the academy did have issues under Bellamy also.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dml1954
So you are automatically assuming that its all true then. Funny that - I got the totally opposite view from reading the OP, where it appears to me the club acted quickly and properly at the time the incident took place. Assuming that the story actually happened as described of course. It wouldn't be the first time that a media outlet had concocted a story to make its own headlines. There appear to be people with agendas against the club involved here.
And you are automatically assuming it’s all false. The hypocrisy in your post is astounding.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mrbluejay
The Football Association is investigating after a child alleged that he had been subjected to bullying and discriminatory abuse in Cardiff City’s academy.
The Athletic can reveal that a young footballer, aged below 14, has alleged that instances of racism took place on a minibus while travelling to an away match. The child has told an FA investigation that his own team-mates are the alleged perpetrators. The young boy himself gave evidence to the FA investigators over a Zoom call.
The child, who is no longer training with the academy after becoming unhappy in the environment, is of Middle Eastern heritage. He told FA investigators that he heard monkey noises and that team-mates also rubbed bananas into his clothes. The FA investigators also heard alleged that staff failed to respond in a satisfactory manner and clamp down on the abuse. Indeed, it is claimed the alleged victim was told to get on with it and clean it up himself by a staff member who first heard the complaint at the time. The young player and his family are being supported by the anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
The player has currently dropped out of the club’s academy and returned to grassroots football, although he does sometimes train at satellite facilities owned by the club.
In a statement to The Athletic on Wednesday evening, a Cardiff City director said: “We can confirm that we are aware a complaint has been made to the FA regarding an alleged instance of racist behaviour and bullying between children whom were enrolled in the Club’s academy.”
The club confirmed that the allegations date back to events in 2018 but argue that the claims around racism have only surfaced in recent months. The club say they were aware of complaints about the player’s treatment in their academy but insist that “no staff or coaches were involved.”
Following the player’s initial complaints, the director says that the club’s academy and education department “thoroughly investigated the matter at the time.” The Cardiff director added: “A meeting was convened with all the players from the group and their parents/guardians at which point the Club’s code of practice and standards were reiterated. This was followed by an educational presentation.”
Now, however, the child and his guardians have escalated the complaint by reporting allegations of racism, as well the aforementioned alleged bullying, to the FA.
There is also understood to be a dispute between the player’s family and the club over his right to register at a different club after leaving Cardiff. In accordance with Football League regulations, Cardiff are alleged to be insisting on compensation payments for any players who leave in his youth age group to sign for different clubs. The guardians in question believe Cardiff should waive the right to compensation as the club is alleged to have failed to provide a safe environment for their child.
The Cardiff director continued: “No complaint of discrimination was raised by the player or his guardians at the time. The complaint has been made by the player’s guardians to the FA nearly three years after the event and following a meeting with the club at which the club confirmed it would agree to release the player and that it would not relinquish its entitlement to training compensation should the player wish to join another club.”
Cardiff say they are prepared to “engage” with any club who wishes to sign the player but also claim the player’s guardians said previously that they did not wish to re-enter elite football until the player turns 16.
The Cardiff academy has been beset by issues in recent years. A Cardiff statement in March revealed the club had launched “a comprehensive investigation into non-recent allegations of bullying and poor practice relating to the club’s academy”. This step preceded the allegations of racism that can now be reported.
In March, the Daily Mail newspaper reported that the club’s academy manager James McCarthy had been one of those suspended as the club confirmed two staff members had been stood down while the internal process was carried out. The club’s safeguarding officer Rob Cronick, a former detective chief inspector with South Wales Police, is tasked with conducting a second investigation, over which the FA and EFL retain a level of oversight. This is separate to the FA’s investigation into the allegations of racism.
Cardiff’s academy had previously been criticised when former Wales captain and Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy stepped down from his position as their under-18s coach in January 2019. The club had investigated a bullying claim against Bellamy and others. Bellamy denied the allegations made against him. The club’s investigation flagged “a number of significant concerns” and concluded that academy players faced an “unacceptable coaching environment” at the club. The club’s findings did not name individual staff members in its conclusions.
The FA is unable to officially comment on the details while an investigation is ongoing.
Why did it take three years to come to light?
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Llandaff Blue
The **** is going on in the academy? Disgraceful
My thoughts exactly. How is this investigation still going ahead? Major changes are needed and should have happened a long, long time ago.
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bobby Dandruff
Why did it take three years to come to light?
Abuse is often hidden for years until those affected talk about it
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SLUDGE FACTORY
Abuse is often hidden for years until those affected talk about it
Ok.
How very sad that something so traumatic should fester for so long :-(
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic
When is the club report announced in March going to be completed I wonder - is the fact it’s taking some time a sign of the club taking the allegations seriously or does it indicate we’ll end up with a fudge after a long delay?
Re: Racism allegation - The Athletic