Player axed in monkey chant row

SHEFFIELD UnItED’S Sophie Jones was last night given a five-game ban and fined £200 for allegedly making ‘monkey noises’ at tottenham’s Renee Hector during a Women’s Championship game in January. Jones’ club contract was then terminated but she announced that she is quitting football, citing a lack of trust in the authorities. ‘I stand firm that I am not guilty,’ said Jones, 27. ‘I am struggling to come to terms with this decision and how the FA can come to a verdict based on probability from the two witness accounts verbally given, instead of reviewing the case and its evidence in its entirety. ‘the hearing took place in a kangaroo court. I feel I am unable to continue within football and play under an organisation that I do not have any confidence in.’ Jones claimed that ‘more than 10 other witness statements,

including Tottenham players, confirmed they did not hear racial abuse.’ Jones (below) alleged that her barrister was constantly ‘shut down’ by the FA’s independent panel and that video evidence submitted showed ‘no issue had occurred’ and was disregarded. Tottenham’s Hector said: ‘There is no place for racism in our game. A zero-tolerance policy is imperative in stamping this out from football and I welcome this verdict. No one should be subjected to racist abuse and I felt a responsibility to call it out.’ Kick It Out said in a statement: ‘Verdicts like this underline the importance of calling out discrimination. We stand with Renee Hector and her teammates and hope others who may face a similar situation will be empowered.’ There was more positive news for the women’s game yesterday, however, as Barclays became the first title sponsor of the Women’s Super League in a deal worth more than £10million over three years from next season. It is the biggest-ever investment in UK women’s sport and includes an annual prize fund of £500,000.