FA investigating "racial incident" involving Grays Athletic (From Thurrock Gazette)

FA investigating "racial incident" involving Grays Athletic

3:38pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News

THE Football Association has confirmed it is looking into an alleged "racial incident" involving Grays Athletic fans and Potters Bar players.

Herts Police were called to the Paktex Stadium, in Potters Bar, at around 9.30pm on Tuesday, following complaints of a disturbance at the Ryman Division One North match involving Grays Athletic and Potters Bar.

The force sent a number of officers to the incident, which involved Grays fans and a Potters Bar player, who has hearing and verbal difficulties.

On arrival, police found the crowds had dispersed so no arrests were made, but the disturbance is being treated as a "racial incident".

A police spokesperson said: "We sent a few units to the ground where there were reports of Grays fans chanting abuse at a black player with disabilities. 

"We are treating it as a racial incident."

Nick Robinson, vice-chairman of the Ryman League said: "We are aware  of part of these allegations.

The matter is in the hands of The FA as they are the competent authority for dealing with crowd problems."

Herts police have handed the matter over to the FA, which says it is now investigating.

Grays Athletic fans have denied that there was any racist chanting but the club have declined to comment officially.

On a Grays Athletic forum, one fan who was at the game said: "The player who wanted the pass made some weird noises to which a crowd next to where we stood mimicked.

"It was not monkey chanting. Their two defenders got the hump with our lads and pointed out that the lad was in fact deaf.

"How were they supposed to know without the player having a sign around his neck? Apologies were given."

Blues won the match 2-0, going above Potters Bar and Maldon and Tiptree to top the Ryman Division One North league.