‘RACE SLUR’ AT YOUTH TIE PROBED

Under-14 side walked off pitch in protest

YOUTH football bosses are probing an alleged racist incident at an under-14 game which saw one side walk off and abandon the match.

Members of Motherwell FC Community Trust’s 2008 age group claimed a team-mate was racially abused by an opponent.

The allegations were made during their 11-aside game against Syngenta FC in Falkirk last Saturday.

The Scottish Youth FA has now launched an investigation to decide whether “disciplinary action” would be taken.

It said it took a “zero tolerance approach to any form of discrimination”.

But Syngenta said the club had already conducted

EXCLUSIVE its own investigation and was “fully satisfied that there is no case to answer”.

The match is understood to have been a Scottish Cup tie between Syngenta and the Motherwell outfit at Falkirk’s Graeme High School.

It was claimed one Motherwell player had been “racially abused” by a Syngenta team member.

A source said: “The Motherwell team walked off after the incident but their coach spoke to them at the side of the park for a good five to 10 minutes in relation to the abusive comment to ensure they were aware of how unacceptable such conduct is and to ensure the boys were OK, particularly the boy who was abused.”

A Scottish Youth FA spokeswoman said: “The SYFA takes a zero tolerance approach to any form of discrimination and treats any reports of this nature extremely seriously.”

A spokeswoman for Syngenta said: “We are aware of the allegation, it has been thoroughly investigated by the club, and we are fully satisfied that there is no case to answer in this instance.

“As a club, we abhor any form of racist abuse.”

Motherwell Community Trust was approached for comment but did not respond.

BY alan.mcewen@reachplc.com