Millwall ban 13 year old and put him on an education programme

Teenage boy banned from Millwall matches following racist Facebook posting



A 13-year-old boy who posted a mock-up picture of Bolton Wanderers striker Marvin Sordell with a gun pointed at his head on Facebook has been banned from Millwall's matches "for the foreseeable future".

The boy, who apologised to the striker, has also been offered a place on an anti-racism programme run by Millwall for All.

Three statements were issued today by the FA, Millwall and Bolton Wanderers. The furore centred over the fake photograph, which also shows Sordell with blood on his face and shirt, that was posted on the striker’s page on the social networking website.

It also carried a threatening message.

The statement by Millwall FC said: “Firstly we would like to put on record how grateful we are for the support and co-operation we have received from Bolton Wanderers and The FA in resolving what has been a challenging and topical issue over the past four weeks.

"Having completed our investigations into the incident, we have identified and interviewed a 13-year-old boy who admitted a verbal exchange with Marvin Sordell in which abuse was used.

"The individual has been banned from Millwall matches for the foreseeable future, but as a club we also felt, given the boy's age and background, we had a duty to play our part in attempting to educate and rehabilitate him.
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"Accordingly, we have offered to put him through one of our education programmes, run by Millwall for All (formerly the Millwall Anti-Racism Trust) in the hope that we can change his outlook on equality, racism and life in general. In the meantime, the boy has written a letter to Marvin Sordell offering his apology, which has been accepted.

"We would also like to put on record how disappointed everybody at Millwall FC was in the way in which the initial allegations were reported in some sections of the media.

"These reports were made with no knowledge of the facts and created the impression that Bolton players were subjected to racial chanting or systematic abuse by more than one individual.

"We trust that, now the facts have emerged, certain individuals will reflect on the reports they made.

"Finally, it is our hope that all of us within football, including governing bodies, clubs, players, fans and the media can continue to work together to build on the progress that has been made over many years in effectively tackling the issue of racism in our game, rather than merely sensationalising, and thereby trivialising it.”

The FA said it applauded both Millwall FC and Bolton Wanderers FC for their commitment and cooperation in ensuring a full and thorough investigation could take place.

It added: "We would also like to thank Marvin Sordell and The PFA for their assistance throughout this process. The FA fully supports Millwall’s approach in terms of dealing with the young individual responsible through a ban from the club's matches for the foreseeable future as well as offering him a place on one of its education programmes, run by Millwall for All.

"As the English game’s governing body, The FA continues to work closely with our partners to ensure we eradicate all forms of discrimination in football, including the important work Kick it Out undertakes with professional clubs through the Equality Standards.”

A statement by Bolton Wanderers added: "Following the conclusion of the investigation, Bolton Wanderers would like to thank The FA and Millwall for their co-operation and assistance in responding to the events at the Den.

"Marvin Sordell would like to thank The FA, the PFA and Kick it Out for their support, and Millwall for the way in which they dealt with this. Bolton Wanderers will continue to work with, and support, The FA, Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card in their on-going work against all forms of discrimination in football."