Non league club’s youth coach ‘banned’ after taking players off amid ‘homophobic abuse’

A non league club’s youth coach has been left shocked at being ‘banned’ after taking his side’s players off amid ‘homophobic abuse’.

Darren Wildman, who is head of academy for Skelmersdale United, claims he has been fined and banned by the Football Association after taking his young players off the pitch when they were allegedly subjected to the appalling comments.

He says he was forced to leave a game in June this year after his players, who are 16 or 17 years old, were called a ‘nasty homophobic slur’ while he was branded a ‘c***’.

The 47-year-old claims his complaint was backed up by a referee, but just a week later he was baffled at being issued with an E3 misconduct charge himself for causing a game to be abandoned.

The manager, who has been a coach and player for 30 years, was then allegedly told he would be given a touchline ban, but now feers his career could be over after speaking out, claiming Liverpool County FA and the Football Association, have ‘punished him for standing up to unacceptable homophobic abuse on a football pitch’.

After appealing for help on social media, Darren received support from charity Stonewall, who claimed they ‘stood in solidarity’ with the team.

Darren said via LancsLive: “I’ve been involved in games for 30 years, I’m used to abuse but nothing like that. It got way past what was acceptable.

“There was colourful language, I was being told to grow up, called a ‘busy c*nt’. I then asked the referee to observe us leaving the ground, at which point we were subjected to even more. That’s the societal problem we have.

“This has been going on for five or six months. No one’s contacted me. No one’s contacted the player who was homophobically abused.

“The children are all under 18. From a welfare point of view, I was concerned and so were the other coaches that it would escalate if we went back on [the pitch].”

Darren claims at first, he took the decision to discuss abuse with his players and other coaches on the pitch, before they all agreed to leave.

After the footballers allegedly used homophobic language, he claims people on the sidelines were also ‘slinging nasty stuff’ at them.

Darren said: “This was back in June in a pre-season semi. We were away and there was a bit of an altercation on the pitch in front of us. A player was then subjected to a nasty homophobic slur.

“I then informed the referee who hadn’t heard the initial comments. We then took the players off the sidelines.

“Me, the referee and opposing manager then had a discussion. The opposing manager went berserk and said ‘it’s just words – what your problem?’.

“At this point, people on the sidelines were getting involved slinging nasty stuff at us. That’s when the decision was taken not to continue.

“The kids are 16 and 17. We’re incredibly proud of them from a coaching and development point of view, because they showed a lot of maturity in standing up as a group.

“We were winning the game comfortably. From my point of view, morally it was the right thing to do, but the FA create such a culture where I’m second guessing if it was the right thing.”

Darren adds that since the incident occurred, his actions have also affected some friendships, with friends suggesting his career could be over for speaking up about the abuse.

While online Darren received more than 300 supportive replies from well-wishers, branding the FA’s decision ‘disgusting’, he unfortunately got private messages from trolls with ‘nasty’ comments – one including anti-Semitic slurs too.

Darren said: “We put an extraordinary report on an incident into the County FA. The referee then backed that up by including in his report all the abuse we were suffering.

“Then a week later, out of the blue and without warning, I got charged with an E3 misconduct charge for causing a game to be abandoned.

“It’s a token fine. I’ve received a touchline ban and a nominal fine.

“I had to pay £45 to put my case in front of a panel. I was subjected to nearly three and a half hours of cross-examination on Webex. I pleaded not guilty.

“Some of my friends are mad at me because they think I may have potentially damaged my career. I probably have.

“It’s almost a case of ‘be a good little boy and go quietly into the night’. I’m not prepared to do that.

“It’s the principle. You put rainbow laces out, rainbow backgrounds to your badges, rainbow corners flags, but when someone stands up about it you hammer them.

“I’ve been a bit wary about opening my mouth. Because the tweet went viral and the trolls jumped on board. I’ve had some pretty nasty stuff sent to me via that.

“I woke up this morning to another bucket load of abuse, which you just delete and block.

“I’ve deleted the Twitter app off my phone for now. It’s human nature to go and look and see what people are saying about you.

“While the majority is overwhelmingly in support, some of the stuff I’m reading is like ‘wow’. One of the comments on twitter said I should have been gassed like the Jews.

“It affects you. It’s made me less confident because I’m second guessing what I do.”

On social media, Darren’s post attracted over 365 comments, with the majority of people praising him for standing up to homophobia.

Terry Cordeiro said: “You did the right thing. That’s all that matters.”

Team Achilleus said: “Just know whatever the punishment, that you made the right decision and took the action you felt was right to protect your team, you should be proud & applauded not punished.

“Shame on the powers that be for empowering such fans criminal behaviour with their decision.”

Liam Braisdell said: “Really sad to hear Daz. Needs more people like you to take action on stamping this issue out.”

Jonny Evans said: “If you’re not getting support from the top then what the hell are you supposed to do? Disgusting that.”

Alex Kay-Jelski said: “What you did took guts and means a lot. Thank you.”

Liverpool County FA issued a statement claiming it was committed to tackling discrimination and abuse in the game and ‘strongly condemns’ the actions of the opposing team.

A spokesperson for Liverpool County FA said: “Liverpool County FA are committed to tackling abuse and discriminatory behaviour and strongly condemn any actions of this nature.

“All reported allegations are investigated in accordance with The FA’s Rules & Regulations as well as the relevant authorities. As part of that process, we are not in a position to comment on individual cases which are ongoing, or subject to appeal.”

“Put simply, abuse and discrimination has no place in our game at any level and any report of abuse is treated with the utmost importance and integrity.

“This week, one particular case has become subject to coverage in the local and national media. We can confirm that this charge relates to the abandonment of the football match only.

“Liverpool County FA, as part of its grassroots football programme, which encompasses all the County FA’s work on equality, diversity and inclusion, strives to be the forefront of the fight against all forms of discrimination to help create a better football experience for all.

“Liverpool County FA will be making no further comment until this appeal process has been completed.”

So today I was found guilty of taking my players off a pitch when subjected to homophobic abuse.
Let that sink in, a County FA has punished me for standing up to unacceptable homophobic abuse on a football pitch.@stonewalluk please help

— Daz Wildman (@neo2daz) October 1, 2021

I really wish the FA could just stand up, admit when they get things wrong and grow as an organisation. Sadly they seem to have a mental block when it comes to that particular skill set 🙄

— Daz Wildman (@neo2daz) October 6, 2021

Twitter users reacted at the non league club’s youth coach being ‘banned’ after taking players off amid ‘homophobic abuse’…

@R2DToots: Thank you for supporting Daz. He’s my friend, he’s a good man, and his actions are to be applauded. Football needs more people like him, and especially at grassroots level. I’m disgusted that he’s been charged. It’s a shameful decision, and I hope it gets overturned.

@kenty1906: Glad to see daz is being fully backed. A right decision for me the language not only off the pitch and from there u21’s manager and first team manager were a disgrace. Hope they change there mind once appeal is put in. #skemacad

@pohanlon23: I’ll do your appeal for free!!! Sick of this rigid, jobs for the boys, out of date, simplistic approach and attitude adopted by these people who cannot appreciate that these very real societal issues have now fully infiltrated football.

@Hut2008Paul: Excellent work from your club. I hope all goes well with any appeal you lodge. The FA need to respond positively in your favour & look to investigate the actual complaint of abuse against your coaching staff.

@tony_kitching: Well done mate. Stand by your principles and the support you’ve offered to your team. The county fa have shown themselves to be embarrassing and obviously non supportive of the cause of support for all no matter their sexuality

@pendo86: As a gay football fan, I applaud your coach’s decision and thank you for supporting him. There’s still a huge homophobia problem in football and @Liverpool_CFA’s disgraceful decision just proves that it’s not being taken seriously and not enough is being done to tackle it.

@Brillo1971: We’re taught to protect players from a young age. Remove them from abusive/toxic environments, take them off the pitch if we deem it the right thing. This will & SHOULD carry forward as they get older. Adults need more education than kids! You did the right thing mate

@davebyrne01: @nwcfl this needs investigation, teams, players, fans & individuals who make a report or raise a concern or take action, need support, they need to do heard, they should be supported, hate crime & homophobia should not be tolerated within our game. Send a report to @kickitout

@LML96_: I’m incredibly sorry you had to do this Daz. Yet again, the authorities don’t call out the abuse, they call out the people making a stand against the abusers. Our governing bodies need to become fit for purpose once more.

@sullivansa1: Well done for making a stand against homophobia Daz that in itself takes great courage. There are far too many coaches/sports people who think casual homophobia and “banter” is ok. For our future generations, it’s not. What do @FvHtweets think?

@anthony_luca96: Dinosaur system. Rather fine you for not playing the game as it goes against their principles, rather than looking at the bigger and long-term picture, as well as example you set, with opportunities to be learnt for everyone involved. Jokers! Same all round mind

@DraycottPaul: It’s a disgraceful decision. I hope and your players are incredibly proud of the actions you took – you should be. It’s a great example to all of us – thank you

@jonnytheshrew: If you’re not getting support from the top then what the hell are you supposed to do? Disgusting that

@ForeverAYellow: Just shows how incompetence the FA really are… yet again! ‘Report this’, ‘Tell us about the abuse’, but we’ll also ban you for doing that and taking your players off the pitch. Bet they wouldn’t get arsey if England players walked off