Adebayo Akinfenwa hits out at the FA’s verdict to clear a Fleetwood Town staff’s ‘racist’ remark, which came during a playoff encounter this summer.
The forward was left hurt by what one member of Joey Barton’s side allegedly called him during a League One playoff semi final match in July.
The much loved footballer played a part in Wycombe Wanderers aggregate win at Adams Park, before going on to beat Oxford at Wembley in the final to secure promotion to the Championship, but has come out with a statement after what was said made him feel “dehumanised as a black man”.
The statement on Wycombe’s website, back in July, read: “Monday night was one of the highlights of my career with Wycombe so far as we secured our place in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley.
“However, what should have been an evening of joy and excitement quickly turned into one of anger and frustration.
“Historically I have been subjected to and have experienced abuse across a number of areas and about many things, including my size but also about the colour of my skin.
“Throughout my life I have had to deal with many forms of racial abuse, both overt racism as well as covert racism. As a footballer, I have experienced the same throughout my career, dating back to when I suffered severe and widespread racism playing in Lithuania.
“I have always vowed to stand up and have a voice when it comes to racism, believing that education is ultimately the key to a future without racial discrimination.
“Following the conclusion of the game I learned that a representative of the opposition had repeatedly referred to me as a Fat ‘Water Buffalo’ in a derogatory tone.
“Regardless of whether or not there was deliberate racial intent by using that language and irrespective of the context in which it was used, if we are to make real and long standing change then we must strive to educate each other about these issues. We must work together to ensure those who have not and do not face racial prejudice understand that what may appear to them to be a throwaway remark can have such a big and hurtful impact.
“A Water Buffalo is a dark animal and as a black man I believe that you have dehumanised me by associating me with a dark animal as this was said in a derogatory manner.
“I feel passionately around raising this because we as a sport and as society must wake up. We must do more. We must educate ourselves and understand the potential repercussions of using such language and be aware of the hurt it can cause. The bigger issue to me would be the lack of understanding as to why calling me this term would not be hurtful to me as black man, and this must change.
“Taking a knee, supporting social media campaigns and wearing a logo on our kits is a start, but it is not enough. It will not result in real and long standing change.
“The real work must start now and the only way to move forward collectively is through education.
“We must all play our part. #BlackLivesMatter
“Wycombe Wanderers is fully supportive of our players and back all campaigns to end all forms of discrimination. The FA have been made aware of the allegations. Neither the player or club will be making any further statements at this stage.”
Fast forward to this week, speaking in a video published on Instagram, Akinfenwa said: “The FA had an opportunity to stamp this out, to say that there are no grey areas. Wrong is wrong.
“So that it never happens again, this is what we are going to follow through. They chose not to.”
The FA commissioned a report from an independent expert in race relations, which concluded the words were not “objectively racist”.
Akinfenwa, who at the time said the remark “dehumanises me as a black man”, added: “Unfortunately I received a 10 per cent increase of racial abuse on my social platforms.
“I actually don’t care about those people that wanted to send or promote negativity or hate. What I care about is the FA.
“The FA had an opportunity to stamp this out and to show a united front. To say, going forward I am going to educate the masses to say that there is certain terminology that cannot be used.”
“The FA want us to report incidents and as a father I would say to my kids the same thing, if somebody does you wrong report it,” Akinfenwa continued.
“But if the system time and time again lets you down, what is there for you to do? How are you meant to feel?”

Wycombe said in a statement: “The club disagrees with the conclusion of the Football Association (FA). The investigation confirms that the language was used. There is no place in sport for such comments.”
Fleetwood said in their own statement: “The club have co-operated fully in regards to the matter and welcome the decision of the FA and in particular the independent expert’s conclusion that the employee’s comments were not objectively racist.
“Am I disappointed yes, am I surprised no. I already know that talking anything about race is an uncomfortable conversation and I’ve said this many times, we need to have these uncomfortable conversations and I know race terminology is a trigger for certain people.
“But let me say that I am disappointed with the FA’s findings. They basically confirmed that a comment was said but said it could be deemed racist or it could be deemed as not racist, and so they erred on the side of caution of it being not racist.
“I got told about this comment 24 hours afterwards by white members of my football club and they waited 24 hours to tell me because they know how I would have reacted if they had told me on that day. There would have been a bigger backlash and I would have been suspended and they chose to wait 24 hours because they deemed it racist.
“The FA had the opportunity to stamp this out, to say there is no grey area, wrong is wrong so it never happens again but they chose not to. On the advice of my club I lodged a complaint and unfortunately I received a 10 per cent increase of racial abuse on my social media platforms.
“I actually don’t care about those people who wanted to send or promote negativity or hate what I care about is the FA. The FA had an opportunity to stamp this out and show a united front and say ‘you know what, going forward we are going to educate the masses to say there is certain terminology that cannot be used’. They chose not to.
“The FA want us to report incidents and as a father I would say to my kids the same thing, if somebody does you wrong report it. But if the system time and time again lets you down, what is there for you to do? How are you meant to feel?
“I want to shout out to everybody who has showed support and showed love we have still got to continue to fight we’ve still got to continue to stay together.”

The PFA have said: “…disappointed that The FA has decided not to carry forward Wycombe Wanderers’ complaint of alleged racial abuse from a Fleetwood Town representative toward Adebayo Akinfenwa due to a lack of evidence.
“It is abundantly clear that a white player with a similar stature to Akinfenwa would never be described in the way he was during this incident. Black people have battled dehumanisation for centuries, and the PFA strongly condemns the use of all disparaging remarks that compare Black players to animals.
“This type of hurtful, derogatory language is unacceptable, regardless of intent, and Adebayo showed great courage in coming forward to report this incident, which tarnished what should have been a night of celebration for Wycombe Wanderers.
“We recently published a report about racial bias in football commentary, and this incident demonstrates that bias extends to problematic language casually used on our pitches and in the dugouts. We encourage every football stakeholder to read our report, acknowledge the impact of the language they use – consciously or unconsciously – to describe Black players and take steps to address their bias.
“We share Adebayo’s disappointment that this has allegation will not be upheld, especially since he took steps to speak publicly about the incident’s emotional impact. We are in contact with Adebayo, and will continue to offer him our support.”

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