Ashton Town have suspended a player from the club after allegations of a racial abuse towards a referee which caused the abandonment of their league clash with Cleator Moor Celtic on Saturday.
The North West Counties Division One North outfit were trailing 1-0 after 35 minutes when their player, who was not named, was shown a straight red card for foul and/or abusive language.
However, the referee immediately abandoned the fixture after believing the comments made to him had racial connotations.
Looks like the game’s abandoned
— Cleator Moor Celtic (@CMCelticFC) November 3, 2018
Club chairman Mark Hayes issued a statement on Ashton Town’s Twitter account on Tuesday evening confirming that the player, who has denied his comments were racist, has been suspended pending a Football Association investigation and internal investigation carried out by the ninth-tier club.
The statement read: “Saturday was something that I have never experienced before in football, and nor do I want to experience again.
“Our player had just been given a straight red card and sent off from the field of play for using foul and abusive language, which was directed at the matchday referee.
Following Saturdays abandonment of our game v Cleator Moor Celtic, Club Chairman Mark Hayes can confirm that a player has been suspended from the club pending the outcome of an FA investigation, which will also be complimented by an internal club investigation.. pic.twitter.com/xtyTuIYBHh
— Ashton Town AFC (@ashtontownafc) November 6, 2018
“The referee made me aware that he believed the comment made towards him to be racial, and he abandoned the game immediately.
“The player concerned feels that the alleged remark has been misheard by the referee and although it is accepted that foul and abusive language was used by our player, this was not of racist nature.
“Ashton Town AFC do not condone any of the above, and in the best interest of all parties have relieved our player of playing duties until the formal investigation has been concluded.
There's no change in the bottom half of the First Division South league table with St Helens Town remaining in 15th place. pic.twitter.com/BG9nv1IXPW
— Hallmark Sec Lge (@nwcfl) November 1, 2018
“Just to have us within that cloud hurts me as a person, and as a chairman, and I truly hope that this dos not tarnish the club and all the good things that we do.
“This club has a fine reputation, and I hope that it stays that way.”
The Town currently sit in 14th place in the North West Counties Division One North table after five wins from 14 fixtures.
