AFC Croydon Athletic: Following a thorough investigation by the London FA there will be no charges brought against any player of AFC Croydon Athletic in respect of the allegations made of racist or racially motivated abuse

AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC have confirmed that no charges will be brought against any of their players after Fisher complained of receiving alleged racism during a game between the two sides.

 

Fisher manager Ajay Ashanike decided to walk his players off the pitch after an incident during a Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division fixture at Mayfield Stadium on Saturday 28 December 2019.

The alleged incident made the national news and AFC Croydon Athletic refuted the allegations made against them by their opponents.  The home side were leading 3-1 before referee Dan Blades abandoned the game in the 58^th minute.

A statement from AFC Croydon Athletic said: “The club has today been advised that following a thorough investigation by the London FA there will be no charges brought against any player of AFC Croydon Athletic in respect of the allegations made of racist or racially motivated abuse.  

“The club believe that this vindicates the position they have taken to support the player who was subject to the allegation.

“We extend our thanks to the London Football Association for their work on the matter and the speed with which the matter has been resolved.

“There are issues which the League will now have to resolve in respect of the unfinished game and I am sure that this matter will be resolved in due course.

“We are mindful that there has been a significant amount of comment and speculation in the media about this matter but as a club we took the view that it was important that this matter should first be resolved by the football authorities.  

“We are pleased that this has now concluded and the player concerned exonerated.   We will, however, be making no other comment on this matter which we believe is now in the past.

“It is important, however, to restate that AFC Croydon Athletic abhors and condemns any racist or racially motivated abuse and is fully supportive of the stance taken within football to work to eradicate this from our great game.  

“It must not only be eradicated from football but also from society as a whole.     

“We are proud that our club reflects the wonderfully diverse community in which we are located and in the match that gave rise to this issue, and in each of our games since, eight of our starting 11 players have themselves been black which further reinforces why this issue is both relevant and important to us as a club.  

“Furthermore, we are equally committed to ridding our game of all forms of discrimination.”

Fisher Football Club, which is based in Rotherhithe, London SE16, have not yet issued a statement on the matter and the Southern Counties East Football League need to make a swift decision whether to replay the game or reward the points to Kevin Rayner’s side, who were winning at the time.

AFC Croydon Athletic welcome Greenwich Borough to Mayfield Stadium tomorrow (15:00).

The Rams are in fourteenth-place in the league table with 23 points from their 18 league games, while Greenwich Borough are at the foot of the table with 12 points from 19 games.

Visit AFC Croydon Athletic’s website:  www.afccroydonathletic.co.uk