A non-league club will host a special Rainbow Laces charity game on Saturday following an incident in which one of its players suffered a "torrent" of homophobic abuse.
Ashby United Community Football Club, based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, will face the LGBTQ + club Leicester Wildecats at their Hood Park field on Saturday (start at 1pm).
The match was organized after an incident in June in which Ashby's Callum Prince was subjected to a sustained period of homophobic abuse by spectators while running the line in an away game in Swadlincote in the Burton & District Sunday Football League. .
Last month, a disciplinary committee of the Football Association ruled on the matter after an investigation, sanctioning home team Springfield Sportsbar FC with a fine, penalty points and a stern warning about their future conduct.
Prince testified at the FA hearing, describing how spectators cheering for Springfield yelled abusive words and phrases such as "f **** t," "f *** k gays," and "f ** k gay pride. "in him while officiating on the sideline closest to where they were congregated.
Springfield has pleaded not guilty to charges that include an aggravated violation of FA Rule E21 in relation to discriminatory behavior on the basis of sexual orientation, but the commission panel noted that he was "persuaded" by Prince's evidence in particular. and punished the club, with the crime in the 'high' category, which justifies a greater sanction.
Talking to Sky sportsPrince described the "intimidating" experience of the abuse and the effect it had on him. The 23-year-old was playing primarily as Ashby's substitute goalkeeper at the time, and as he was not on the team of the match day, he was asked to run the line in the second half - a common request. at that level.
"It was a crash at the top of the table, towards the end of the season," Prince said. "For a Sunday league game, a relatively large crowd had gathered. When I took my position on the touchline, there were 30 to 50 people behind me.
"The abuse increased as the half progressed, especially as Ashby took a 3-1 lead. It was deeply disturbing. I was paralyzed in the moment."
No other bystander present seemed to challenge what Prince was being told. In his testimonial statement, he described how he informed the referee during a water break about the abuse he was suffering, but the official told him that he would not act unless someone tried to trip him while running the line. "I was disappointed, as you can imagine," he said.
The homophobic comments continued. Towards the end of the game, which ended 3-3, Prince gave an offside decision against Springfield. Writing in his statement, he noted how "a bystander behind me asked if my dad touched me when I was a child."
The escalation of the abuse, and in particular the comment mentioning his father, was "difficult to process" for Prince. "My dad took me to my first game at the age of nine, I support Burton Albion, and I've been a huge soccer fan ever since.
"I have coached U17 and U18 teams and am also Ashby's vice president and press officer.
"I always felt welcome and on the same level as everyone else, but I felt it was taken away from me by what happened. After the incident, I stopped playing for about five months."
My teammates were just as horrified by the abuse as I was ... everyone at Ashby was very supportive of me, which really helped.
'Wearing rainbow laces is powerful'
A year ago, Prince had shared his personal story on the Ashby United CFC website during the annual activation of Rainbow Laces. He wrote about the anxiety he felt before coming out as gay while studying sports at Loughborough College, only to find that his fellow students welcomed him and that the space was inclusive.
He found a similar atmosphere in Ashby, where the club strongly supported the campaign for LGBTQ + inclusion in sport. Prince wore rainbow laces on his boots that Sunday morning in June, the day of England's Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
"I always have them in my boots, and I never had any problems. Even though it was six months after the activation of the campaign, at that time at least one of my teammates was still wearing them," he said.
"I think that's why the abuse started, when someone saw the laces. But despite what happened, I don't regret wearing them and will continue to do so. They emphasize that sport is for everyone. We shouldn't have to play." within ourselves for fear of being abused for who we are.
"Especially if you are not gay or LGBTQ +, wearing shoelaces is powerful. When your teammates show they support you, they also say that you are just a fellow footballer and that is how you should be treated."
Prince is the Vice President and Media Director for Ashby United CFC and says he has always felt welcomed by his clubmates and teammates.
After the game, he told the other Ashby players what had happened during the 90 minutes. They were horrified. "Other than what I said to the referee, I didn't mention it to anyone else at the time. I didn't want to disappoint the team or distract them.
"But when I described it, everyone was very supportive, which really helped. We filed an official complaint with the league and county FA the next day."
The process took five months to run its course, during which time Prince had to attend the hearing along with the other parties involved. "Of course, they were trying to get the best result for their club and I was concerned that it would be my testimony under scrutiny. If no one else is there to say that they heard it too, and if there is no evidence, would I get expelled?
"But the people on the FA panel were very calm. They encouraged me to talk about what happened. I hadn't really talked about it much, except with some close friends. I fell in love a little bit with football." , and put me on edge.
"The process was long and difficult, and every time there was an update, I had to relive the abuse. Sometimes I really struggled."
Prince (center) thanks his teammates and Ashby United CFC staff
Written reasons for the FA produced in November records how "the burden of proof was placed on the Derbyshire FA to test on the balance of probability; meaning that the Commission would be satisfied that an event occurred if it considered that, based on the evidence, the occurrence of the event was more likely than not. ".
The accusation against Springfield was proven "unanimously" and the panel members were "satisfied" that the aggravated non-compliance factor had also been met to their satisfaction.
Recently, Prince has started playing again with Leicester Wildecats, one of more than 25 LGBTQ + clubs nationwide that play in the GFSN National League. The Wildecats will provide opposition against Ashby on Saturday for a friendly accessory that will help raise money for Stonewall, the charity run by Rainbow Laces.
He is enormously grateful to both clubs and believes that the message the game sends should be heard by those involved in football outside of the league across the country.
"When incidents of homophobia happen now in the Premier League and EFL, it becomes high profile," says Prince.
"But I think this is more common at the grassroots level, and it's not like it's happening anymore, because it's always been there. It's rare that people bother to report it.
"We have seen fantastic awareness being generated through Rainbow Laces at the elite level, but I feel like this strikes a larger conversation, because it highlights how this is still a major issue at the grassroots."
Leicester Wildecats FC, recently joined by Prince (back row, third from right), will face Ashby on Saturday afternoon.
Prince is proud to have helped organize this weekend's friendly match and to have turned such a negative personal experience into an event that revolves around positivity.
In particular, it wants spectators at games of all levels who witness abuse to challenge those responsible for it if it is safe to do so and, if not, to report the abuse through the appropriate channels; something, he thinks, the county federations, the leagues. and clubs should do more to advertise.
"I would encourage more people to get involved where they can. If someone uses an insult, challenge it and report it to a delegate.
"If anything, my experience has charged me with pushing for inclusion in any way that I can. If it helps a person, whether LGBTQ + or not, to feel more secure about who they are, and shows that this type of unacceptable behavior Let's do it. Let's take a stand. "
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Visible strong ally displays, like England's Harry Kane wearing a rainbow captain's armband, are valuable ways to show support for teammates who are LGBTQ +, says Erin Williams, manager of sports engagement at the Stonewall charity. .
Sky Sports is a member of Team pride what supports Stonewall Rainbow Laces Campaign, currently receiving its annual activation from November 25 to December 12. Your story of being LGBTQ + or an ally could help make sport everyone's game - please contact us here to discuss further.
