BEARDSLEY GUILTY
Ex-England star banned for seven months after racist abuse of Newcastle youths Coach called black player a monkey FA panel has ‘serious reservations about his credibility’
PETER BEaRdslEy has been suspended from football for seven months after being found guilty of racially abusing Newcastle United’s young black players, including calling one of them a ‘monkey’.
an independent Fa panel found that the shamed former England forward had also commented to players of african origin ‘you should be used to that’ during a climbing exercise at the Go ape adventure course.
The third charge which was proven related to Beardsley questioning the legitimacy of the age of an african player, which the panel concluded was a ‘negative stereotype that players of black african origin commit fraud as to their true age’.
The three-man commission were also in no doubt that Beardsley had called a black player a ‘monkey’ during a game of head tennis. They even stated: ‘We have serious reservations about Mr Beardsley’s credibility.’ Sportsmail revealed exclusively on January 8 of last year that allegations of racial abuse had been
made against the Under 23s boss, as well as claims of bullying and discrimination. The FA hearing did not deal with the allegations of bullying, but Beardsley admitted to calling one player a ‘cocky b*****d’ and a ‘tw*t’.
It was heard that 23 players had given evidence saying Beardsley made such comments to many players, but targeted one player more than others.
Beardsley was suspended by Newcastle pending the outcome of an investigation before being dismissed on grounds of gross misconduct. The club probe, led by managing director Lee Charnley, had found him guilty of racially abusing players.
The FA then brought three charges against Beardsley in March of this year.
The hearing took place in July and they confirmed that an independent regulatory commission had suspended him from all football-related activity until April 29, 2020, after upholding the charges.
The 58-year-old has also been ordered to complete a face-to-face education course and pay the costs of the commission.
The panel listed the aggravating factors in Beardsley’s punishment, including that the racially abusive comments had taken place over a ‘period of months’ and ‘involved a number of different players’.
They also considered ‘particularly serious’ Beardsley’s ‘florid story’ of an ‘unwarranted allegation that three young black players had concocted a story for financial reasons’.
The panel said: ‘It must have been stressful enough for these young players to give evidence, particularly against someone who they thought of as a footballing “legend”, and even more so to have to face unfounded allegations of fabricating evidence.
‘If Mr Beardsley had accepted the charges and apologised, that would have afforded him considerable mitigation. By fighting the case, he has lost the benefit of that.’
Beardsley responded with a statement via his lawyers. It read: ‘Peter Beardsley is very surprised and disappointed by the decision. It was almost impossible for Peter to clear his name because of the serious flaws and contamination of evidence that occurred in the disciplinary process before Newcastle United and by the unusual fact that FA rules put the burden of proof on him to prove his innocence in the proceedings.
‘After a long process, Peter feels vindicated that the commission has expressly found that he is not a racist.
‘Peter and his legal advisers have been inundated with support, both from fellow professionals of the highest repute including John Barnes, Kevin Keegan, Les Ferdinand and Andrew Cole, as well as other football professionals including managers, coaches, players and fans, all of which provided evidence as to Peter’s good character, the fact that he is not a racist and whatever was said, there was no intent to cause offence.
‘Surprisingly, Newcastle did not provide the relevant training and education for Peter. Peter has always been willing to attend training organised by the club.
‘Peter has denied the allegations while continuing to honour the contractual obligations of confidentiality.
‘With no avenue left open to him to clear his name, Peter has no choice but to acknowledge the decision. He shall respect the sanction imposed and looks forward to returning to work in football, which has been his life, at the end of his suspension.’
The commission concluded: ‘We are satisfied that Mr Beardsley is not a racist in the sense of being ill-disposed to persons on grounds of their race or ethnicity.
‘But on the three occasions he made remarks which were obviously racist and were wholly unacceptable.
‘Even if he did not intend to do so, he plainly did cause offence.
‘It is particularly important at a time when racism in football is prevalent that remarks of the kind made by Mr Beardsley are punished severely.’