Investigation launched into racism allegations

Investigation launched into racism allegations

5 December 2012

THE GAA’s top brass were meeting last night as investigations continue into allegations over racist abuse at Sunday’s Ulster Club football final between Kilcoo and Crossmaglen Rangers.

Crossmaglen player Aaron Cunningham, whose father is black, claims he was abused during the match by two members of the Kilcoo panel.

It is also alleged that Cunningham suffered racist abuse from spectators at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Last night the Ulster Council of the GAA set up an investigation into the allegations.

Ahead of last night’s meeting Ulster GAA president Aogan Farrell said anyone found guilty of racism would be dealt with “as severely” as possible.

The Kilcoo club has said it condemns racism and will co-operate with any investigation.

The allegations have completely overshadowed the Ulster decider which Crossmaglen won by 3-9 to 1-9, despite a second half comeback by Kilcoo, to secure their third consecutive provincial title.

Cunningham claims he was subjected to abuse on a number of occasions during the match. The 24 year-old said that he chased after one of the players who abused him and challenged him about his remarks.

“I ran after him and asked him what about what he had said. He shrugged it off and said: ‘Well, I had to do something, youse were playing so good’.

He said what happened had no place on a football pitch. “When race or whatever comes into it, I think it’s disgusting,” he remarked.

Cunningham said he had suffered racist abuse at underage level, but this was first time it had happened at senior level.

Cunningham is the son of Joey Cunningham, the former Armagh star who also played soccer for Portadown in the Irish League.

He said he had received racial abuse every week in the Irish League, but was shocked his son had suffered it during a GAA match.

“Unfortunately, for the 99 per cent of good people who support football and play football, you’re always going to get that minority who just don’t think,” Mr. Cunningham said.

“It’s really really hard to speak about as a father when you hear something like that has happened to your son. I thought I had taken enough of that in my lifetime of playing football.”

Mr. Cunningham said he was proud that his son had not been provoked into a reaction on the field.

“I’m very proud that he held his head and that he didn’t let himself down. He stayed on the field, he didn’t do anything silly which is what the other team were probably hoping for.”

The Kilcoo club issued a statement shortly after the allegations were made.

“Kilcoo GAC is an all-inclusive club which prides itself in appealing to all sections of our community, and is shocked and saddened to hear of any allegations of racial abuse following the Ulster Club final.

“We as a club condemn abuse from whatever quarter and shall co-operate fully with any investigation instigated by Ulster Council.”

The Ulster GAA president said “severe penalties would be applied” to anyone found guilty of racist abuse.

“The matter will be pursued because the GAA at all levels is absolutely anti-sectarian and anti-racist and we will have no time for anything like that in our Association,” Mr. Farrell remarked.

“We will certainly not be letting it . The club have indicated to us what they want the matter investigated and it will be.

“The sanctions of the GAA are very clear. Rule one of the GAA states very clearly that we are anti-sectarian and anti-racist and if anyone is in breach of that, well then they would be deemed to have discredited the Association.”

Mr. Farrell said penalties imposed could range from eight-week suspensions up to the maximum of lifetime bans, though he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation.

The Ulster Council’s investigation has been welcomed by the Gaelic Players’ Association.