No FA charge for Fleetwood Town after Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa was called a "water buffalo"

The FA have not charged Fleetwood Town following the complaint by Wycombe Wanderers that a club member had referred to striker Adebayo Akinfenwa as a "water buffalo".
Adebayo Akinfenwa celebrates Wycombe's play-off triumph last seasonAdebayo Akinfenwa celebrates Wycombe's play-off triumph last season
Adebayo Akinfenwa celebrates Wycombe's play-off triumph last season

An FA investigation concluded there was "insufficient evidence" that the term was racist or discriminatory.

Wycombe made the formal complaint after the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Fleetwood on July 6, while the striker himself wrote online that the term "dehumanises me as a black man".

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While nobody interviewed during the investigation disputed that the term had been used, the FA states there was no overall agreement as to whether the words were discriminatory or were intended to be.

The FA also consulted an independent expert in race relations, who concluded "that the words were not objectively racist".

The FA statement says: "Both match officials confirmed that they had not interpreted the words to be discriminatory in either nature or context, which was why no red card had been issued to the member of FTFC.

"The member of FTFC accepted using the alleged words but denied that they were used in a discriminatory context and were instead used to describe the player’s actions.

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"Having considered the witness accounts, the expert’s detailed report, and all of the facts and circumstances of this specific incident, The FA is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge the member of FTFC with a breach of FA Rule E3(2).

"For the avoidance of doubt, The FA is entirely satisfied that the alleged words were used by the member of FTFC. However, The FA has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to put before a Regulatory Commission to prove that the words amount to a breach of FA Rule E3(2).

"Whilst on this occasion the words have not been deemed to be discriminatory, The FA understands the offence that has been caused to the WWFC player by their use.

"The FA will therefore seek to monitor the use of these words moving forwards and discourage their use given the potential they have to offend.

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"The FA reserves the right to investigate any future incidents where these words have been used, with the view that disciplinary action may be taken based on the individual circumstances of any case."

A statement issued by Fleetwood Town reads: "Fleetwood Town acknowledge the result of a Football Association investigation in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E3(2) by an employee during the Sky Bet League One play-off game against Wycombe Wanderers in July.

"The club have co-operated fully in regards to the matter and welcome the decision of the FA and in particular the independent expert's conclusion that the employee’s comments were not objectively racist.

"As a club we operate a no tolerance approach in regards to discrimination of all kinds and continue to support the EFL’s Not Today or Any Day campaign, which encourages behavioural and attitude changes at all levels of football. We will make no further comment on the matter."

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The Professional Footballers' Association stated that it is "disappointed" with the ruling, saying: ""It is abundantly clear that a white player with a similar stature to Akinfenwa would never be described in the way he was during this incident.

"Black people have battled dehumanisation for centuries and the PFA strongly condemns the use of all disparaging remarks that compare black players to animals."

Wycombe Wanderers stated: "The Club disagrees with the conclusion of the Football Association. The investigation confirms that the language was used. There is no place in sport for such comments."