Daily Record

Thanks for nailing the cowardly footy racist

Celtic boys’ coach hails parents for shopping bully who hurled racial taunts behind his back

- BY MICHAEL McQUAID reporters@dailyrecor­d.co.uk

A CELTIC Boys’ Club coach who was racially abused by a parent has praised the “courageous” parents whose evidence nailed the culprit.

Jonas Diatta hopes Ricky McManus’s conviction and £1500 fine will deter others from using such vile language.

McManus, 61, of Castlemilk, Glasgow, was found guilty of verbal attacks on Jonas and a 14-year-old boy during training at Strathclyd­e Park, near Motherwell, between September 2016 and June last year.

Jonas, 50, has coached with the club, who are unconnecte­d to Celtic FC, for six years.

He said: “It killed me when I learned the racist nature of what was being said about me and the boy.

“I never heard any of this directly. It was all said behind my back during the whole season.

“I’ll be eternally grateful to the parents who had the courage to come forward because in some cases they were friends with this man, but realised what was said was unacceptab­le and told the court exactly what happened.

“I hope this case helps to protect future generation­s and that no other child of colour who runs around a football field has to deal with the pitchside abuse that was thrown at this boy.” The police probe into McManus’s behaviour came after he reported Jonas, claiming the coach had bullied his 13-year-old son Reece.

Celtic BC child protection officer Jim Stewart investigat­ed his allegation­s and concluded that Jonas had breached protocol by shouting at the boy. But he failed in a report to mention parents’ claims that McManus had racially abused Jonas. The Scottish Youth Football Associatio­n and police then became involved.

Jonas said the bullying claim was a “fabricatio­n intended to have me walk away from the club”.

Stewart has been suspended by the SYFA after failing to attend a hearing into the allegation.

But last night he insisted he didn’t turn up because he didn’t think 13-year-old boys should have to give evidence in front of a panel – only at home with their parents.

Stewart said: “The SYFA refused to do that, I didn’t attend and that’s why I’m suspended.”

The SYFA said it had been unacceptab­le for Stewart to make allegation­s without providing evidence.

They added: “Given the absence of any evidence against Mr Diatta, he has been cleared and is free to resume his coaching career.”

Some were friends of this man but they told truth JONAS DIATTA CELTIC BOYS’ COACH

 ??  ?? SHOUTED ABUSE McManus
SHOUTED ABUSE McManus
 ??  ?? GRATEFUL Jonas Diatta has thanked parents who backed him
GRATEFUL Jonas Diatta has thanked parents who backed him

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