Coventry City say they are left ‘sickened and saddened’ by racist messages to released player Fankaty Dabo after the playoff final.
Fankaty Dabo blasted over a crucial penalty in the Sky Blues’ Championship playoff final defeat at Wembley on Saturday.
The midfielder has since received “abhorrent” racist abuse, with the club making a statement after Dabo was named as one of seven players to be released by Coventry at the end of the season.
đŁď¸ We are clear that there is no place for racism in our society and that the Club and our partners will provide all of the support to Fanky that he needs.#PUSB
â Coventry City (@Coventry_City) May 30, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Coventry City is sickened and saddened following the racist messages sent to Fankaty Dabo on social media following Saturdayâs Play-Off Final.
The messages sent by some individuals to Fankaty are abhorrent. We are clear that there is no place for racism in our society and that the Club and our partners will provide all of support to Fanky that he needs.
The Club will work with the PFA, EFL and the Police regarding this matter, and will seek to ban and prosecute any person found to have sent racist messages.
Many Sky Blues supporters sent supportive messages to Fanky following the game and we thank them for doing so.
Owner and Executive Chairman Doug King: âThe messages sent to Fankaty were disgusting and there is no place for any person who sent such vile abuse at any of our games, and social media is not a hiding place to make these comments.
âThe Club and our partners will support Fankaty, and we will not hesitate in taking action against those people found to have done this.
âCoventry is a tolerant and multi-cultural city that we are proud to represent, and there is no place any form of racism or discrimination in person or on social media.â
No one deserves this. Fankaty Dabo missed the penalty that wouldâve possibly sent Coventry to the Premier league pic.twitter.com/b3TEkILP1O
â JayStu412 (@jay_stu412) May 28, 2023
RELEASED / RETAINED
Coventry City Football Club can confirm the players who will be leaving the Sky Blues following the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.
Fankaty Dabo, Julien Dacosta, Todd Kane, Sean Maguire, Michael Rose, Martyn Waghorn and Tyler Walker will all leave the Sky Blues following the conclusion of their contracts.
Under-21s players Will Bapaga, Tom Billson, George Burroughs, Ricardo Dinanga, Aidan Finnegan, Jay McGrath, Harrison Nee and Blaine Rowe will also leave the Club.
Captain Liam Kelly has been offered a new one-year contract with Coventry City, having made 161 appearances and scored 3 goals for the Sky Blues in his distinguished career at the Club so far. The Club will keep supporters updated regarding negotiations regarding the new deal for Liam.
Jonathan Panzo (Nottingham Forest), Callum Doyle (Manchester City), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Arsenal), Josh Wilson-Esbrand (Manchester City) and Luke McNally (Burnley) return to their parent clubs following the end of their loan deals with the Sky Blues.
Fankaty Dabo joined the Sky Blues in June 2019 and would be a key part of the side that won the 2019/20 League One title, earning the Player of the Year award in the campaign too. Moving with the Club up to the Championship, Dabo remained a popular figure with fans, players and staff alike and would go on to make a total of 131 appearances for Coventry City.
Julien Dacosta joined City in July 2021 and would make 24 appearances for the Club, while Todd Kane made the move to the Sky Blues in August 2021 and played 41 games for City, scoring 1 goal. Sean Maguire leaves following the conclusion of his short-term deal with the Sky Blues, having made 7 appearances for City.
Defender Michael Rose leaves the Sky Blues having joined in the Summer of 2019 and been an integral part of the 2019/20 League One winning side. He would go on to make a total of 119 appearances for Coventry City, finding the net on 4 occasions.
Strikers Martyn Waghorn and Tyler Walker also leave the Club following the end of their contracts. Waghorn joined in the Summer of 2021 and made 42 appearances, scoring 2 goals. Walker made the move to the Sky Blues in August 2020 and was top scorer in the Clubâs 2020/21 campaign, the first season back in the Championship. He would eventually go on to make 72 appearances for the Club, scoring 12 goals.
Coming through the Academy, Will Bapaga would make 8 appearances for his hometown side while keeper Tom Billson made one first-team appearance for the Sky Blues. Alongside them, George Burroughs, Ricardo Dinanga, Aiden Finnegan, Jay McGrath, Harrison Nee and Blaine Rowe were all regulars in the Under 21s side that won the PDL Final in 2021/22 and reached the Birmingham Senior Cup Final this season.
All other players currently under contract remain at the Club.
Manager Mark Robins said: âI would like to thank those who are leaving for their time with us, the contributions that they have made to Coventry City, and wish them all of the best for their future careers.
âIn particular, Fankaty Dabo and Michael Rose were huge parts of the side that won the League One title and then established us in the Championship. They will both be fondly remembered for many years to come by all Sky Blues fans, and the outpouring of support for Fanky from our supporters following Saturday goes to show the esteem he is held in.
âI would also like to thank Jonathan, Callum, Brooke, Josh and Luke for the contributions they made this season while on loan with us, and their parent clubs too.
Robins added: âWhile Saturdayâs result was disappointing, we can be very proud of what we have achieved this season. The work now gets underway to prepare for the 2023/24 campaign and we look forward to going again in what will be another very competitive Championship season.â
Twitter users reacted with Coventry ‘sickened and saddened’ by racist messages to released player Fankaty Dabo…
@RobPUSB: Dabo. Iâve loved you, and whilst I have been annoyed you at times, youâve always been a top servant to this club and will leave with an excellent record here. Saturday took a hell of a lot of courage, and for that you will always have our respect đ
@PeteDudgeon1: Absolutely this. No room for racists in our club; a club that represents a city of diversity. Maybe reintroduce taking the knee next season as some fans still think racism is acceptable. They need to know itâs not.
@bigirahmanaSBA: One kick doesnât define all he had done for us
@KyleJRead: No true City fan would racially abuse Dabo. Cov have a proud history of black players. First African player to play in the premier league. Black players in the 87 Fa cup winning team. Dabo is a key reason we rose from league one to a strong championship team đ
@maddymacmaddy1: Fanky always a sky blue ..fankkkaaattttttyyyyy dabo running down the wing ..always will have love for you here thank you for your amazing contribution to where we are now. Go and help transform another club and become a leged there as well. Much love Fanky #PUSB
@skybluelee76: What is wrong with people? đĄ We all love you in our household, Fanky, and even more so for having the bottle to step up for the penalty. đ
@ChrisDennis5: These people are not fans. We donât want people like that affiliated with the club. Gutted for Faky for the penalty miss, the treatment heâs been subjected to since, and the fact it was one of the last things to happen to him as a member of this squad.
@leadballoon74: These arenât fans and when I say that I mean they are not actual fans and will have had nothing to do with the club ever Just racist scum revelling in an opportunity to spout their poison. Absolute lowest of the low but they and all the poor sods that know them will know that
@realvicminett: Absolutely despicable not to mention unfathomable. Get back in the sea you bottom-feeding racist scumbags. You make me sick. đ Dabo. Thanks for the memories.
@ScottWeymouth: I hope theyâre found, prosecuted and never set foot at a City game ever again. Theyâre not wanted or welcome at our club.
@skyblue_fudge5: đ So sad and disgusting was the abuse given to Fanky, a player who has gave his all for the club. Well Done City for making a stand on this. PUSB
@adamgipki: FFS, what is wrong with society. These trolls in general need policing off platforms and football in general.
@_alexsmith1999_: The comments from most of the accounts werenât even from CCFC fans but from faceless/anonymous accounts The club should be speaking to the big social media companies about how your allowed to conceal your identity on the internet and be allowed to say anything you want
@forketaboutit: Hopefully they get named and shamed as well as a ban. They shouldn’t feel comfortable in the city of Coventry for the rest of their miserable pond lives
@JamesGane_11: saddens me his last contribution was the penalty miss. Good luck in your future Dabo
Sorry to see him go.
Will miss his energy and love for the sky blues 𩵠pic.twitter.com/w4mwsIWqmoâ Kazla đâ˝ď¸ (@ccfckaz68) May 30, 2023
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