AFC Wimbledon and Birmingham athletes have received racist comments from rival fans.
Following Juninho Bacuna’s complaint about the incident with the referee during the second half of the Sky Bet Championship match at The Hawthorns, the host team has announced that it is backing West Midlands Police.
The English Football League saw two instances of this kind on the same day. AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson disclosed that his player, Omar Bugiel, had complained about being subjected to racial abuse against Bradford.
A West Brom statement said: “West Bromwich Albion can confirm that during the second half of today’s game, Birmingham City midfielder Juninho Bacuna reported an act of racism to referee David Webb.
“West Midlands Police conducting a criminal inquiry into this situation will have the full backing of Albion. In order to make sure Juninho Bacuna gets the assistance he needs right now, the club will also stay in touch with Birmingham City.
“The club takes a strong stance against all forms of discrimination and will do all it can to ensure anyone found guilty of racism faces the toughest available legal punishment, in addition to a lifetime ban from The Hawthorns.”
The incident occurred one week following the disturbances caused by fans during West Brom’s FA Cup match versus Wolves, another local rival. Bacuna’s complaint will be “included in the official’s match report, and the club will assist the FA, the EFL, and the authorities accordingly,” Birmingham said in a statement.
“Birmingham City thanks the West Brom stewards, security, and executive team who acted immediately, and the issue is now with West Midlands Police.”
At Valley Parade, play in Wimbledon’s League Two match against Bradford was momentarily halted after goalscorer Bugiel of Lebanon claimed to have been the target of racial taunts from an audience member.
Jackson stated, “I believe Omar Bugiel was the target of some racist taunts.” He reported it by going in with the referee. It happens only a few weeks after racism was exposed during Serie A and Championship games on January 21 by Mike Maignan of AC Milan and Kasey Palmer of Coventry City.
The winger for Nottingham Forest, Callum Hudson-Odoi, recently declared to Sky News that he would confront racist supporters in person. Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, also demanded that clubs whose supporters engaged in racial abuse forfeit games as a form of discipline.