CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — A controversy in full swing The football tournament in Cary Thursday when a team left the field during a game.
This happened towards the end of the match between Dallas United and West Ham United. Dallas was leading 2-0 when West Ham left the field.
Former professional player Anton Ferdinand, one of several former West Ham players who traveled to the United States to represent the English club, said a Dallas United player used a racist slur against him.
Ferdinand and teammate Matt Jarvis spoke publicly about the incident around noon Friday, after their final match of the tournament.
“I have to go on the record and say that the topic of conversation that was revealed yesterday is better than football. The way TST handled it so quickly, the pragmatic action, many people around the world, organizations in the world. world, I can take note of it,” Ferdinand said.
Ferdinand refused to go into detail about what was said to him, but said his reaction and that of his teammates was justified.
“This is an extremely competitive format, and it does not exist or survive if we do not support it and provide a safe playing environment for our teams. And that is what we will always strive for to do,” said Jon Mugar, CEO of TST.
Ferdinand acknowledged that the club had considered skipping its match on Friday but opted to play, crediting TST officials for the way they handled the situation. Before the match, players from both clubs took a knee in solidarity.
“I have a duty, I believe in myself, to make sure that if I find myself in these situations, I use my voice in the best way possible,” Ferdinand explained.
West Ham won their match on Friday 4-3, but were eliminated due to their overall record; Tournament officials determined that no points would be awarded following Thursday’s match against Dallas United, which they led 2-0 at the time of the call.
Ferdinand expressed his appreciation for the reaction of supporters, supporters and opponents.
“When someone of white heritage hears someone of my heritage talk about it, it’s almost like it’s a broken record, we’ve heard it before. But when you hear it from someone ‘one that looks like you, that makes you take note So I I think everyone needs to come together to fight collectively and if we do that, football can be the catalyst for change in society. will have to want to change with him,” Ferdinand said.
Mugar said tournament organizers had not yet considered whether Dallas United would be invited again.
Controversy gripped the soccer tournament in Cary Thursday when a team left the field during a game.
“We have to remember that this is not just a football problem, it is a societal problem that needs to be solved, and if more people approached it in the same way as TST, the world would be better,” he said.
This is not the first racial incident that Ferdinand has been forced to endure while playing football. In November 2020, it was the subject of a BBC special on racism in the sport. A case he brought forward in the 2010s resulted in John Terry, a world-famous English footballer, be suspended for four matches and forced to pay a fine of 220,000 euros.
The referee in charge of the game in Cary on Thursday told players he did not hear what was said and was therefore unsure of the appropriate course of action.
“Due to the lack of action on the pitch, the players have made the collective decision to leave the pitch as a team in support of our player. As a club, everyone at West Ham United stands together against all forms of deception. discrimination and abuse,” West Ham said in a statement.
After the match, The Soccer Tournament investigated the allegations and determined that Dallas United had violated the tournament’s code of conduct.
Dallas United withdrew from the tournament.
“In view of the shadow cast by the accusation of an opposing player during tonight’s match, the Dallas United players have unanimously decided to withdraw from the remainder of the competition,” the club said in a statement. a statement.
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