An MP has called on the FA to show stronger leadership in the fight to kick racism out of football after Wythenshawe Town’s manager was suspended after he stood up to racist abuse at a match earlier this year.
Town manager, James Kinsey ordered his players off the field following racist comments to a player at the game against Rylands in January.
Mr Kinsey was fined and suspended for seven days at an FA hearing. The person who made the comments was also disciplined.
Kick It Out, football’s anti-discrimination campaign, said it was “extremely concerned” at reports that some grassroots clubs “have been facing fines for standing up to racist abuse received by their players”.
And yesterday, Wythenshawe MP, Mike Kane backed the club and the manager.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Kane said: “I am a lifelong Man City fan and a season ticket holder, so I am extraordinarily proud of what Raheem Sterling does on the pitch and his action on anti-racism off it.
“My wife and I are also fans of Wythenshawe Town. In January, the manager James Kinsey took the players off the pitch when the assistant referee was clearly racist to one of our players. That accusation against the assistant referee was subsequently proven and he faces a charge of disrepute, yet the club and the manager still face charges for leading the players off the pitch. Does the Minister agree that the FA needs to show more consistency and leadership on whether and when players should walk off the pitch and whether there should be fines for it?”
And Mr Kane was backed by sports minister, Mims Davies. She said: “I absolutely agree. The FA needs to review its rules and guidance to enable clubs to be effective and consistent in these situations. As we have heard, ultimately we are talking about a workplace, where people should not be subjected to abuse but supported either to walk away or to stand up to it.”
Wythenshawe Town chairman Chris Eaton said the decision to sanction the manager was “appalling”.
He told the BBC: “We don’t think he [Mr Kinsey] did anything wrong… so why should we suffer?”
An Independent Regulatory Commission delivered its verdict on Tuesday that the charge against the assistant referee of “‘aggravated’ breach of FA Rule E3” was proven.
