Fleetwood has been acquitted of any crime following an investigation into the allegations made through Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, who was continually described as “Fat Water Buffalo” in the semi-final of the Ligue 1 play-off last season.
Akinfenwa alleged after the attack that an “opposition representative” made the match back from the tiebreaker at Highbury Stadium in July and said at the time that he “dehumanizes me like a black man. “
The FA stated that it was “fully satisfied” that the alleged words had been used through a Fleetwood member, but that “there was insufficient evidence” to be a violation of the rules.
One FA said: “The FA interviewed several witnesses, adding players and staff from WWFC and FTFC, as well as two officers in form.
“All witness accounts have shown the use of the term “water buffalo” or “buffalo. “However, some witnesses felt that the term was non-discriminatory and had not been used in a discriminatory manner.
Others didn’t know if the term was discriminatory. Some witnesses tested that they thought of the term discriminatory. Party officials demonstrated that they had not won any court cases for the commentary or after adjustment and that the discrimination protocol had not been enacted. . .
“Both adjustment officers showed that the alleged term had been used. One of them showed that this was a discussion between him and an FTFC member that the FTFC member described the WWFC player’s moves. “
“The two adjustment officers demonstrated that they interpreted the words as discriminatory, either in their nature or context, so no red cards were issued to the FTFC member.
“The FTFC member agreed to use the alleged words, but denied that they were used in a discriminatory context and used to describe the player’s actions.
The FTFC member said they were aware that the WWFC player had the nickname ‘The Beast’ and that he had noticed before the attack on social media that he had not been able to exercise and that he was potentially out of shape. “
Akinfenwa, who has worked at Wycombe for 4 years, also said, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, “we, as a game and society, will have to wake up” and called for more to be done to combat racism.
The FA commissioned a report from an independent racial relations expert, who concluded that the words were “objectively racist. “
“This resolution was based on the express cases of the reported incident,” the FA added.
“Although the words were not found to be discriminatory in this case, the FA understands the offense it inflicted on the WWFC player through their use.
“The FA will seek to monitor the use of these words in the long term and discourage their use given their potential to offend. “
Wycombe, who then beat Oxford in the play-off final, said in a statement: “The club disagrees with the conclusion of the Football Association (FA). Research confirms that the language used. There’s no place in sport. “for such comments. “
Fleetwood said in his own statement: “The club has cooperated fully in this matter and welcomes the FA resolution and, in particular, the independent expert’s conclusion that the employee’s comments were objectively racist. “
“As a club, we apply a non-discrimination-tolerant technique of all kinds and continue with the EFL not today or any day that encourages adjustments in behavior and attitude to all grades of football. “
The Association of Professional Footballers [PFA] said she was “disappointed” that Akinfenwa’s complaint had not been postponed for lack of evidence and that the player would continue to be offered.
“It is perfectly transparent that a white player with Akinfenwa-like stature would never be described as he was in this incident,” said one PFA member.
“Black people have fought dehumanization for centuries, and the PFA strongly condemns the use of derogatory commentary comparing black to animals.
“This kind of hurtful and derogatory language is unacceptable, whatever the intention, and Adebayo showed wonderful courage in moving forward to reporting on this incident, which tarnished what has been a night out for Wycombe Wanderers. “
Former Liverpool and England goalkeeper Emile Heskey also said he was disappointed with the result.
“We are in this position where other people will wonder if anything deserves to be informed,” he told Sky Sports News.
“And he’s unhappy when you’re a victim of something and you feel what the usefulness of reporting it is and that’s where we go and we’re still Array. . . we don’t need that. “
“It’s anything that wants to be addressed, sitting and discussed. “