Akhtar and Forde 'apologise' to Kettering fans as they clarify club statement on racist abuse
"Our intention was to underline our opposition to discrimination, not to suggest racism is representative of our fanbase, or that supporters should be held collectively responsible for the alleged actions of an individual."
Kettering Town owner George Akhtar and director of football Fabian Forde have issued a statement clarifying the club's position following reports of racist abuse towards an opposition player at Latimer Park.
Redditch United's Dan Sweeney reported he was racially abused during his side's 2-1 defeat to the Poppies on Saturday.
On Sunday, the club issued a statement condemning the reported incident, which was quickly followed by a second statement from Forde, that hit out at those responsible, but also had a wider message for the fanbase in general.
Forde wrote 'if the majority stays silent, that small minority becomes our identity', and then adding 'what kind of club do you want your children, your families, and your community to see when they look at us?'
Forde also added 'this poison isn’t just happening on matchdays. It is festering daily on our online fan forums, which have become full of vile, racist language and toxic abuse', and asked 'why are we protecting people who are actively destroying the reputation of the club we love?.
He said fans staying quiet 'make our club look like a haven for bigotry' and rounded off the statement by saying 'we need real cultural change, and the club cannot do it alone. Please, look at the person next to you, look in the mirror, and help us protect this club. Take responsibility.'
The statement provoked a strong reaction among the club's support, and on Thursday, Forde and Akhtar issued another statement.
They accepted 'the wording of our statement has been interpreted differently and we sincerely apologise to our supporters for the offence and concern caused'.
The statement also added 'we should have communicated our position more carefully', and made it clear 'our supporters are fundamental to this football club', while praising their 'loyalty and commitment'.
The statement in full read: "Following the concerns raised by supporters regarding the club’s statement on allegations of racial abuse during our fixture against Redditch United, we would like to personally clarify our position.
"Firstly, we want to make clear that we take full responsibility for the club’s statement and the manner in which it was communicated.
"The club launched an investigation immediately upon being made aware of the allegations.
"That investigation remains ongoing, and it is important that we establish the full facts before reaching any conclusions.
"We recognise that aspects of our statement, particularly the references to previous incidents, online supporter forums and the responsibility of supporters to challenge unacceptable behaviour, have caused considerable concern.
"Our intention was to underline our opposition to discrimination, not to suggest that racism is representative of our fanbase or that supporters should be held collectively responsible for the alleged actions of an individual. Equally, references to online discussions were not intended to undermine legitimate criticism of the club or question the integrity of those who participate in them.
"We also wish to clarify that the subsequent coverage by ITV and the BBC followed approaches received by the club from those broadcasters.
"It was not part of a campaign initiated by the club to publicise the allegations or draw negative attention to our supporters.
"We fully appreciate why the wording of our statement has been interpreted differently and we sincerely apologise to our supporters for the offence and concern caused.
"We should have communicated our position more carefully, particularly while the circumstances of the alleged incident remain under investigation.
"Our supporters are fundamental to this football club. Their loyalty and commitment are beyond question, and they deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.
"We would also like to make a direct appeal to anyone who witnessed the alleged incident, or who has any information that may assist our investigation, to contact the club.
"We are determined to establish exactly what happened, and any relevant evidence or first-hand accounts would be greatly appreciated.
"We will continue to take allegations of discrimination seriously while ensuring that all matters are investigated fairly, objectively and without prejudgement.
"We hope this clarification provides reassurance to our supporters and allows us to move forward together."