Pitch brawl after amateur Scots footie coach told to ‘lay off sunbeds’ as ‘racism’ storm erupts
A MAJOR pitch brawl broke out after a Scots amateur footie coach claimed he was racially abused.
Edinburgh Star coach Khadir Idelmenchar, 29, alleges he was told to “lay off the sunbeds” by someone associated with rivals Mill AFC on Wednesday.
A major fight then broke out between rival fans at the end of the game as tempers flared at Victoria Park in Falkirk.
The Edinburgh amateur side has alleged that the individual behind the claims of racial abuse is closely connected to Mill AFC.
The Falkirk club have denied this, and refuted claims they gave a fake name to league bosses in a bid to escape being held culpable.
But screenshots appear to show Mill AFC bosses giving the wrong name - even as they admitted he had made a “stupid comment” to Khadir.
Messages shared online also appear to show the club threatened to banish any players who gave out the alleged culprit’s name.
It’s happening far too many times in amateur football, especially teams covering it up.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun, business owner Khadir said: “We were getting beat 4-0, and I’d stupidly argued with the ref over a decision which led to getting sent off.
“As I was walking away I heard someone shout something like ‘dirty sunbed’. I ran over to the ref and asked if someone shouted something racist to me. The ref said he heard someone over my shoulder.
“I asked their players who it was - they told me who it was. I went over to confront him, and he said ‘yeah, you need to lay off the sunbeds’ or something along those lines. A fight broke out. Afterwards their manager said he was nothing to do with their club.
“I spoke to the ref, he asked if I wanted to report it to police or not. Their manager gave a fake name. We found out he was lying and trying to hide it, and he said the guy didn’t know I was black.”
Fuming Khadir added: “It’s happening far too many times in amateur football, especially teams covering it up. He should have been dealt with correctly. Covering up racism is never going to help the cause.
“I could count on both hands how many people play amateur football that are black. It’s a sad, sad state of affairs.”
But Mill AFC continued to deny the alleged abuser was linked to them at all as they defended themselves on social media.
A tweet read: “The comment was made by a guy at the side of a public park. We can’t control randoms at the side.”
The race row has sparked the resignation of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association’s chairman.
Chris Lowrie claimed that events over the past few weeks within the league had been rooted in “racism, violence, deceit and lies”.
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Edinburgh Star and Mill AFC both compete in the association's Lothian West Championship, with the capital city side winning the division in 2020.
He added: “I find myself having to deal with investigations of racism, hate and violence and frankly some of the most difficult situations imaginable in the amateur game.
“The events of the past two or three weeks and the fallout have been nothing short of astonishing.”
The league has been contacted for further comment.
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Mill AFC declined to comment to The Scottish Sun.
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