MAN CITY IN RACISM STORM

Etihad club apologise after Academy boss uses ‘BBQ’ slur to describe black players

MANCHESTER CITY have moved swiftly to take action after their academy chief used a racial slur to describe black players.

City youth scout Dean Ramsdale was under investigation after being heard referring to black players as “BBQs” – big, black and quick. Ramsdale is understood to have used the term during a meeting about players in front of City colleagues

and two football agents. They were described as initially “taken aback” when they heard youth scouting and recruitment manager Ramsdale’s “racial profiling” of black players.

And one of the witnesses was so angered he later made his feelings known in a formal letter of complaint.

City accept the language used was clumsy and inappropriate and acted immediately, launching their own probe into the claims.

They informed their legal and HR teams before Ramsdale was spoken to by his bosses and told such language would not be tolerated.

City then sent a letter of apology, but have yet to hear if that move marks the end of the matter.

The incident is understood to have happened in early June and been followed up by the formal complaint by the end of the month. City are satisfied they acted correctly as soon as they became aware of the complaint.

Ramsdale, a former Barnsley player, joined City from Sheffield Wednesday in June 2017. He has over 20 years’ experience in youth development.