HATTERS: RACISM CLAIMS ARE NOT PROVEN
LUTON have found no evidence of racist comments being made during their midweek match against Accrington following an investigation, according to a club statement.
The Hatters have been assisting Bedfordshire Police – whose own investigations continue – but the club’s enquiries have concluded there was no evidence to back up either of the two accusations.
In a statement, Luton said the first incident was reported to the club, police and stewards by a visiting journalist – who believed he had heard a home supporter using a racist term in relation to one of Accrington’s players during the hosts’ 4-1 win at Kenilworth Road.
As a result, club officials interviewed a number of supporters, invited other fans in and around the press box to comment, and listened carefully to audio coverage while liaising with the police.
After investigation, the club released a statement regarding the incident, reading: “The club has found no evidence to back up the accusations and we await police advice before conclusion.
“However, we will need to discuss the matter with an elderly gentleman supporter about using bad language – which was not racist – when he was in the stadium.”
The second incident developed from a social media post by a spectator in the away section, which accused Luton supporters of racist chants.
The club did not receive a direct complaint but again investigated the incident and came to a similar conclusion.
The statement said: “The club has found no evidence to back up the accusations and we await police advice before conclusion.”
On both incidents, it added: “The factual evidence remains that of 8,500 people in the stadium, three people claim to have heard racist remarks – a BBC Radio Lancashire commentator, an Accrington Stanley director who was co-commentating with him, and a BBC assistant producer in the Oak Road Stand with away supporters. We would like to reiterate the club’s stance that no form of discrimination is acceptable in football, or society as a whole.”