Footballer ‘racially abused’ in amateur cup final handed six-match ban as club fined after walk-off

Wymeswold Reserves striker Linford Harris says he was racially abused by a spectator after being sent off during a Saturday Vase final in Leicestershire earlier this year

An amateur player who was allegedly subject to racial abuse after being sent off in a Leicestershire cup final, with teammates subsequently walking off in protest, has been handed a six-game ban while his club has been fined.

Wymeswold Reserves striker Linford Harris was sent off during the 78th minute of a Saturday Vase final against Cosby United Development last April.

Harris says he was then racially abused by a spectator, leading to a confrontation between the players and some of the 200-strong crowd present at Holmes Park, Whetstone.

The Wymeswold players walked off in protest and the referee abandoned the game.

Gregg North, who was in attendance to support his cousin Harris, said at the time that the incident had been caused by “one mindless individual”.

“The stewards kept the guy who started the racism in the ground and tried to turf the other people out,” he said.

Wymeswold player Reece Lewin said he was also sent off after confronting the man who made the alleged comment.

The case was passed to the FA’s Disciplinary Commission, which charged Harris with two accounts of “improper conduct”. These related to:

• FA Rule E3 – Improper Conduct (including violent conduct and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour), and
• E3(d) – FA Rule E3 – Improper Conduct (not including threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour)

Alongside the £90 fine and six-match suspension, Leicestershire FA has also served Harris with seven disciplinary penalty points.

Leicestershire FA told Harris: “Written reasons for the Commission’s decision will be provided in due course”.

FC Wymeswold have also been fined £125.

Harris says he has already served an initial four-match ban for the red card he received and was fined £40.

Of the separate six-match ban, Harris told The Independent: “It’s ridiculous.

“They’ve [the FA] received everything, they sent me everyone’s statements and it’s ridiculous how many witness against him there was.

“This was always going to be the outcome.”

He described the FA as “shameful” in their handling of the case, adding that he had yet to receive any written reasons explaining the charges.

Addressing the incident earlier this year, he said: “The FA [officials] didn’t do anything to help the situation at all. Wymeswold ended the game and walked off the pitch as we won’t tolerate it. The officials didn’t know what to do, they heard the chants and did nothing about it.

“The linesman said to the abuser that it’s bang out of order and that was that.

“There was a lot of pushing and shoving and he was seen on video still trying to chase my family members down and was being held back.

“So [they] didn’t remove him [from the premises], he was free to do what he liked.”

The Independent understands that Kick It Out, the equality and anti-discrimination organisation, are awaiting the written reasons from the Disciplinary Commission before providing comment.

A Leicestershire & Rutland County FA spokesperson said: “All charges relating to the Cosby United and FC Wymeswold match have now been heard by an Independent Regulatory Commission. The outcomes are still subject to appeal, therefore we are not in a position to comment at this stage.

“Written Reasons, which will include details of all the charges and explain the reasons for any disciplinary action taken, will be published by The FA in due course. We are also aware a related police investigation is ongoing.”

Harris confirmed he would be filing an appeal against the governing body’s decision.