‘POOL LAUNCH RACISM PROBE
Hartlepool investigate Ebbsfleet accusation that their fans used n-word abuse against McGlashan
HARTLEPOOL chief executive Mark Maguire has launched an investigation after Ebbsfleet forward Jermaine McGlashan accused opposition fans of calling him a ‘n ***** ’.
Officials from the game have taken statements from players while the conduct of the ’Pool official mascot is also under scrutiny after pictures showing a clash at the end of the game with Ebbsfleet team members.
Other footage picked out jeers following a PA announcement calling for racial abuse to stop.
Referee Aaron Jackson spoke with his assistant (top) after McGlashan said he had been abused.
McGlashan later tweeted: “Class from the few Hartlepool players that came to see how I was today after being racially abused – not for the first time in a game.
“No room whatsoever for it & hope it gets dealt with accordingly!” McGlashan has also endured abuse on social media since Saturday.
It comes after Charlton’s Jonathan Leko said last week that he would think twice about coming forward again to report abuse after his own treatment.
Maguire (right) is understood to be working to establish the facts from Saturday’s game – but a statement from the club said it would “hide nothing in our thorough examination of the facts and will respond to any enquiries from any authorities.
“Hartlepool United condemn abuse of any nature and we will continue to work closely with the relevant bodies to ensure that Victoria Park is a safe and welcoming environment for all supporters, staff and players.”
Ebbsfleet boss Kevin Watson reported two allegations of crowd abuse.
He told BBC Radio Kent: “One would be from our goalkeeper ( Jordan Holmes) that came from behind the goal, and one from over the far side of the ground which involved Jermaine McGlashan.
“The two lads have heard what they’ve heard, I can’t say if they have or they haven’t, but I don’t think you report something like that unless it’s happened, that’s my personal opinion.”
Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor insisted he’d heard nothing.
He said: “We’ll deal with it, we’ll put reports in. I can’t control those things, it’s bigger than what I am and ultimately it’s got nothing to do with me.”
Hartlepool were fined £7,500 – including £5,000 suspended for 18 months – by the FA in January following racist abuse during their game against Dover Athletic last September.
FOR National Hunt racing fans, there is nothing quite like the Cheltenham Festival.
For four days, the meeting is top-rated action, with each race throwing up its own interwoven storyline and reason to watch.
This year, for me, the most exciting prospect of the week is in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, where two-time champion chaser Altior (above) will try to beat off his younger contenders in Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi – assuming, of course, he recovers in time after being reported lame yesterday morning.
Ten-year-old Altior is a superstar. The only time he hasn’t finished first in his 21 runs was at Ascot in November when he was runner-up to Cyrname. There are questions over that loss too. He didn’t look comfortable in running and wasn’t racing over his optimal distance. Yet despite his record, the bookmakers and pundits don’t have him as the outright favourite.
Defi Du Seuil is many people’s tip. The seven-year-old is undoubtedly a top horse and already has a Cheltenham pedigree, having won the 2017 Triumph Hurdle and last year’s JLT Novices Chase.
He comes into the Festival in excellent form with two wins over the now retired Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek and Clarence House chases.
Wins in those two races would normally make a horse odds-on for the Champion
Chase, but this year that isn’t quite so.
The other horse at the top of the market is Willie Mullins’ (below) Chacun Pour Soi, who beat Defi Du Seuil by four-anda-half lengths at Punchestown last year. Since then he has been a smart runner-up to A Plus Tard, who is many people’s banker of the week in the Ryanair Chase, and also won handily at Leopardstown last month.
There is no doubt that all three have chances. But for me, to have them all so close in the betting is actually disrespectful to Altior.
In horseracing, like many other sports, there is a growing tendency to look at the most youthful option and assume it to be the best. Whereas experience and what is ironically referred to as ‘a proven track record’ used to be highly coveted, in recent times that has gone out the window.
In football, it’s now seen as a sin for top teams to sign a player even close to 30 years old, regardless of their proven ability.
They are no longer considered to be in their prime.
Until I see otherwise, Altior is still the boss of the two-mile division. He is going for his third consecutive win in the race and is one of the best ever.
I won’t be forgetting his achievements just because he is a little bit older and up against two decent younger contenders. He has plenty left in the tank.
WHILE a hat-trick of wins for Altior would be fantastic, the biggest cheer of the week would come if Faugheen (right),
‘The Machine’, could defy all conventional wisdom and land another Grade 1 Festival victory at 12 years old. That may be inconceivable, but Faugheen is a horse that has consistently bucked trends and embarrassed statisticians, so I wouldn’t write him off.