The Football Association are investigating claims a promising deaf footballer was abused and goaded about during an FA Youth Cup match.
17 year old Will Palmer, who plays for Stamford and had played for the Peterborough and England Deaf teams, was allegedly told by an opposition player to “watch it you deaf” followed by an swear word during his side’s 6-0 victory over Lincoln United on Tuesday.
Palmer, who wears an cochlear ear implant so he can hear some of what is being said, was trying to talk to his teammate and is said to have mocked him by saying: “Speak up mate I can’t hear you” while cupping a hand to an ear according to The Guardian.
FA looking into claims deaf footballer was abused during Youth Cup match#Football #TheFA #FAYouthCuphttps://t.co/QK0tIMuco5
— Mariana Peterson (@MarianaPKY99) September 18, 2019
He said: “During the game he kept on prodding me in the lower back with his finger and running his studs down the back of my leg. When it happened again in the second half I pushed him away harder. Then he said: ‘Watch it you deaf …’ before using the C-word.
“I was in shock. Five minutes later I was talking to a teammate and he continued on this deaf theme by saying: ‘Speak up mate I can’t hear you’ while he was cupping his hand to his ear.
“I thought, I’m just a 17-year-old who wants to play football and I found that really difficult to deal with. I couldn’t shake it off. I wanted to be off that pitch right away and nearly asked the manager to sub me off.”
Lincoln United said on Twitter: “Lincoln United FC abhor all forms of abuse and will look to take action against anyone tarnishing our wonderful community club. We are currently conducting internal investigations into the incident and will respond in due course.”
Jamie Clarke, the captain of the England and Great Britain Deaf teams, said: “I’ve been the captain of England and Great Britain Deaf team for the last few years and I know this lad very well, he will one day soon play for England. This is so wrong, the player who abused him should be kicked out of the club, no excuses. #discrimination”
After reading up on the shocking story, fans took to express their anger with some hoping action is taking on the offender – see those tweets on the next page.
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