Not sure if this has been posted but found this link tonight from the report from FA investigation. Found it quite interesting.
6. During July 2023 Jack Simpson (‘JS’) and Rohan Luthra (‘RL’) were
contracted players at Cardiff City FC (‘CCFC’). JS is white. In his statement
to the Commission RL describes his ethnicity as British/Asian.
7. CCFC undertook a 6-day pre-season tour to Portugal from 17th July -23rd
July 2023.
8. Following a fixture against Porto FC that took place on Saturday 22nd July
2023, the players of CCFC were given permission to have a night out and
“enjoy a few drinks”. The majority of the squad went out into Vilamoura
immediately after the game. CCFC were due to fly home the following day
on Sunday 23rd July 2023.
9. Having consumed high levels of alcohol, JS had returned to his room
around 3:00am-4:00am. He got up and went down for breakfast around
6:00am - 6:30am.
10. JS was sat with CCFC teammates Keiron Evans (‘KE’) and Rubin Colwill
(‘RC’) when RL approached the table and sat down with his breakfast.
11. At that moment, according to RL, JS said to him – “Oh Yeah, and you,
you’re a dirty p*ki”. The use of the words ‘dirty p*ki’ was corroborated by
KE and RC. The comment appeared to be inexplicable as there had been
no conflict or animosity between the two during or prior to the trip.
12. RL, hurt and angered by the comment, got up and sat at another table
after having told JS not to speak to him and that he was “out of order”.
13. KE and RC expressed their shock at the remark and said to JS, “you can’t
say that”. JS acknowledged this and said, “yeah, I shouldn’t have said that”.
14.The Team headed to the airport shortly after. KE reported that when at the
airport he was stood behind JS in a queue at a coffee shop and they spoke
about the incident. JS said words to the effect of, “I’m so stupid. I don’t
know why I said that. My girlfriend is from that country as well.”
According to KE, JS was clearly disappointed with himself and said he
was going to speak with RL and apologise.
15. When JS attempted to engage with RL at the airport, RL told JS that he was
a “racist” and refused to talk to him.
16.RL did not report the incident until after The FA had delivered a
presentation at CCFC on Thursday 27th July 2023. The FA spoke about the
FA Rules and Regulations, including those that cover discrimination and
the need to report it. This prompted RL to report the incident that had
occurred between himself and JS.
17. On Friday 11th August 2023, RL informed the CCFC Club Secretary,
Michelle McDonald, that he had been subjected to a discriminatory
comment by his teammate JS.
18. JS attended a fact-finding meeting at the CCFC Stadium on Tuesday 15th
August 2023. The meeting was conducted by CCFC Head of Human
Resources, Dawn Williamson and Michelle McDonald. Lee Mansell of the
PFA was in attendance with JS. JS stated that he could not recall making
the comment attributed to him due to his intoxication from the alcohol he
had consumed the night before but accepted that he must have made the
comment. The matter was then reported by CCFC to The FA.
19. JS’s contract with CCFC was terminated by ‘mutual agreement’ on 31st
August 2023.
20.The FA arranged an interview with JS that took place on Friday 15th
September 2023 at the Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth. JS reiterated
during the FA’s interview that he could not recall making the comment
attributed to him but again accepted saying it.
21. RL agreed to provide a statement to The FA and subsequently, KE and RC
were spoken to by members of The FA’s Investigations team. KE provided
a statement detailing what he had heard.
22.On 2nd October 2023 The FA Charged JS. The Charge letter read as follows:
“You are hereby charged with misconduct in breach of FA Rule E3 in
relation to your conduct during a pre-season tour with Cardiff City FC in
Portugal. It is alleged that your language towards Rohan Luthra, Cardiff
City FC during breakfast on 23 July 2023 was abusive and/or insulting
and/or improper contrary to Rule E3.1. It is further alleged that this breach
of FA Rule E3.1 is an “Aggravated breach” as defined in Rule E3.2, as it
included a reference, whether express or implied, to race and/or colour.
Please note that should a Regulatory Commission find that an “Aggravated
Breach” of Rule E3.1 is proven, then it shall consider the imposition of a
sanction in accordance with Regulation 47 at p.155 of The FA Handbook
2021-2022.”
23. JS admitted the Charge by way of the FA’s Reply Form and requested a
Personal Hearing. Attached to the Reply Form was a letter from Centrefield
LLP on behalf of Mr Simpson that contained the following:
a. A witness statement from JS with accompanying exhibits
JS1(WhatsApp message of apology JS to RL), JS2 (Image of
handwritten letter of apology JS to RL) and JS3 (WhatsApp message
from JS to MM enquiring if RL had received the letter of apology);
b. a witness statement from JS’s girlfriend; and
c. a supporting letter from Mr Neil Roach (Sport and Exercise
Psychologist).
24. The Letter from Centrefield LLP stated that although JS maintained that
he had no recollection of making the comment he “makes no excuses for
his actions on that basis, or at all.” However, the Regulatory Commission
was requested to take into consideration a number of factors when
considering the level of any sanction to be imposed upon JS:
(i) JS’s admission of the Charge and his cooperation;
(ii) JS’s apologies and his genuine remorse;
(iii) JS does not harbour racist beliefs;
(iv) JS has sought professional support;
(v) JS’s previous disciplinary record and his good character;
(vi) JS’s request for a personal hearing;
(vii) The termination of JS’s Playing Contract at CCFC.
The Personal Hearing
25. With JS having admitted the Charge a Personal Hearing was arranged for
Wednesday 1st November 2023 in order to determine sanction.
www.walesonline.co.uk
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