Kettering Town 'can not hide' from its racism problem

Non-league Kettering Town have said they “can no longer hide” from the issue of racism after a visiting player was allegedly subjected to “sickening” abuse.

Redditch United player Dan Sweeney said he was targeted by a Kettering supporter during Saturday’s Southern League Premier Division Central tie at the Poppies’ Latimer Park stadium, which the hosts won 2-1.

The incident comes after a match official reported alleged racial abuse at a Kettering fixture last season, and a previous instance of alleged racist abuse against a Redditch player at Latimer Park in 2017.

In a statement, Kettering director of football Fabian Forde said the “poison” of racism went beyond matchdays.

He also spoke out against the presence of what he called “festering” racism on the club’s fans forums.

Writing on the club’s website, Forde said: “Let’s be completely honest with ourselves: this is not the first time. We can no longer hide behind the comforting lie that ‘it’s just a small minority’ or ‘they don’t reflect the majority of our fans’.

“Every single time we dismiss hate by calling it a minority issue, we minimise the damage. The truth is, if the majority stays silent, that small minority becomes our identity.

“They tarnish our reputation in the eyes of opposition players, fans, and officials. They make our club look like a haven for bigotry. Is that really who we want to be?”

Forde added that the club could not “keep sending out generic statements that mean nothing” and urged fans to support “real cultural change” by taking responsibility for calling out the perpetrators of racist abuse.

He said: “To the majority of our fans, the good, decent people who love this club for the right reasons, we are pleading with you.

“We need you to stand up. We need you to confront this minority head-on. If you see someone typing hate online, call them out. If you hear someone shouting abuse next to you on a Saturday afternoon, don’t look away.

“Tell a steward. Identify them to the club. Why are we protecting people who are actively destroying the reputation of the club we love?”

In relation to Saturday’s incident, Northamptonshire Police said they had “not identified any report relating to this allegation.”

However, the force said: “It may be that any report is awaiting allocation or has been made to another police force. Should a report be made elsewhere and the alleged offence be found to have taken place within Northamptonshire, we would take ownership of the investigation.

“We note Kettering Town FC’s statement that it is working with its security team, stewards and the relevant authorities to identify those responsible, and we would encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a crime to report it to police.

“Racial abuse has no place in football or wider society, and any reports made to us will be assessed and investigated appropriately.”

The Football Association and Redditch United have also been approached for comment.