City are to open an enquiry into the ugly scenes at Ninian Park last
Saturday. U's player Scott Eustace was the target of racist abuse from a section of the
crowd.
Eustace is himself in hot water though for
inciting the crowd. He made various gestures that have been captured on film and he has
been reported to the match referee and reports may be sent to the Football League.
Whatever antics by Eustace racism is not an
option. The message board on this site has been flooded with comments on the issue. Racism
is not wanted at any football ground and the level of support to erradicate it from Ninian
Park has been overwhelming. Friends of mine were threatened inside the ground on Saturday
for telling the abusers to shut up. This can't be allowed to go on and the Club must come
down hard on the perpertrators. The campaign that started a few weeks ago says it all
"Kick racism out of football".
City Chairman Steve Borley posted the
following on the messageboard tonight.
Following the the events at Saturdays game a statement will be issued on
Thursday on the matter after all issues are considered and a copy of the statement will
also be included in the programme. We are committed to zero tolarance on this issue along
with the police and together we will tackle the issue. We have been striving towards
police free games and Cambridge was police free therefore it was difficult to deal with on
Saturday. We will review the situation with the police and target offenders if necessary.
The damage to the community,the club and the majority of its supporters is huge and will
cost us all dearly. We must strive to make Ninian Park a safe and welcome venue for
supporters and families from all walks of life.
The following statements have been made by City
and Cambridge officials over the last two days.
City Chief Exec David Temme.
"We were disappointed that Scott Eustace found it necessary to try and incite the
crowd by making lewd gestures. The incidents are clearly shown on camera and were reported
to the referee at the time and after the match. A further report may be sent to the
Football League.
But whatever the provocation, Cardiff City as a club do not condone racism and will do
everything we can to stamp it out. We will not tolerate such behaviour from spectators. We
are at the forefront of the campaign against racism in football."
City Chairman Steve Borley.
"We have not had a problem with racism at Ninian Park. I have not heard chants
like that here for more than 20 years. We in no way condone a situation like that and will
be looking into it and taking the appropriate action. That sort of thing will not be
allowed here."
Cambridge manager Roy McFarland.
"Cardiff City's action over this is a complete surprise. Coins were thrown at
Scott Eustace and we brought that to the attention of the referee. There was also racial
abuse, but we told the referee we did not want to make a big issue of it."
The Cambridge Evening News carried this
story tonight.
CAMBRIDGE United centre-back Scott Eustace, pictured, may be reported to the
Football Association by Cardiff City for allegedly making "lewd gestures", to
the fans at Saturday's match. The defender is said to have reacted after being barracked
by a section of supporters towards the end of United's 4-0 victory at Ninian Park. Their
response was to throw some objects at him, which United reported to the referee, then aim
racist chants at him. Cardiff chief executive David Temme, said: "We don't condone
any kind of racism in any way. But we feel the Cambridge player to a large extent brought
it on himself by his lewd gestures to the supporters. We reported his conduct to the
referee at the time, after the match, and now to the football authorities." But the
development was news to United manager Roy McFarland. He said: "I don't want to say
too much at the moment, because we haven't heard anything from Cardiff, and nothing was
said to us after the match, which I find very surprising in view of this action now.
Objects were thrown at Scott Eustace and I heard racial abuse. We brought it to the
attention of the referee and told him we didn't want to make a big incident out of it. Now
I'm waiting for contact from Cardiff." Cardiff chairman Steve Borley was saddened to
hear about the abuse. He said: "I have not heard this sort of thing at Ninian Park
for 20 years, and we will do all we can to stamp it out. Racial abuse is not
acceptable." The 24-year-old defender has twice been in disciplinary trouble this
season. He was fined £250 by the FA for remarks to the referee after the match at
Chesterfield in August. And recently he was fined two weeks wages by United for what
McFarland called "unacceptable conduct," at a club Sportsmen's Dinner. |
