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16th November 2006

Taylor intervenes in row

The Scottish Football Association has said it will re-examine allegations that a Spartans player was racially abused during a game this season.

Dan Gerrard alleged he was abused by a Whitehill Welfare player and said he felt "let down" by the SFA's initial inquiry into his claim.

Taylor intervention
SFA chief executive David Taylor said he would re-examine the case after Spartans produced fresh evidence.

The player accused of racist abuse has denied any wrongdoing.

Spartan chairman Craig Graham told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme the alleged incident happened during the club's first league game of the season.

Graham said there had been a similar incident last season, but revealed that the club had decided not to make a complaint on that occasion.

"When it happened again this year, in discussion with the player Dan Gerrard, we decided that we would write to the SFA and ask if they could investigate," the Spartans chairman said.

"The (SFA) disciplinary committee met about six weeks later and unfortunately Dan was on holiday and couldn't attend.

"We were advised by the SFA that the meeting would be held over until the players were available.

"We were then surprised to receive a letter to say that the comment could not be proved - we were dissatisfied as no witnesses were called, no players were called, so we tried to appeal."

'Closed matter'
Graham said the SFA told the club they were not in a position to appeal and therefore "the matter was closed".

"There doesn't seem to be clear procedures within the SFA on how to handle these incidents," he said.

"So we've asked the SFA, to set out very clearly, what happens should something like this occur in the future."

Gerrard said he believed his allegation had been handled "incompetently" and that it should not have been "such a protracted affair".

"If the SFA had stepped in and dealt with it how they should have in the first place then it would never have gone on as long as this and annoyed as many people as it has," the player added.

"I feel let down, embarrassed and offended for them to suggest that myself and the other guys involved have nothing better to do than make up stories."

Abuse denial
SFA chief executive David Taylor said: "The person accused of making these remarks completely denies it.

"So it's a case of one person saying one thing, and someone else saying another.

"There's been additional evidence brought to us by Spartans that was not brought to us at the time of the original hearing.

"So I'm getting involved personally in the case to see if there's anything else we need to do."

Whitehill Welfare said they had responded to the SFA over the allegations and did not wish to comment further.