In a recent interview, a player has opened up about the abuse he has received whilst playing football, including suggestions that other players had used disability related abusive language towards him in a hope of initiating retaliation. In the article, the player goes onto say that “I’m not one to report it” and “what happens on the pitch, to me, stays on the pitch”.
Level Playing Field strongly believe that the behaviour of players who have made these comments is inexcusable, and it has no place in society or in football. For a player to use abusive slurs which reference disability is deeply troubling and disappointing. As role models, footballers should be setting an example and not attacking each other at the expense of disabled people.
Tony Taylor, LPF Chair, said “We are saddened to read that comments such as these take place on the pitch. There is absolutely no place for this appalling behaviour. Incidents such as these should be exposed, reported and dealt with swiftly. We urge any official, player, fan or staff member who is in receipt of this type of abuse or witnesses it, to report it. The days of bravado are long gone and we regret that the player believes that these comments should not be reported. We need a spirit of zero tolerance for any form of disability discrimination or language that suggest this.”
LPF invites any supporters who have experienced and disability related abuse to contact us so that we can offer our support and guidance.
Level Playing Field – Reporting email – info@levelplayingfield.org.uk
Level Playing Field – Reporting number – 02086212403
For more information, please see the following link: