‘Isolated and alone’: boy, 12, racially abused at football match in London

Sethi Balaguru, who plays for Pitshanger FC, said he decided to speak out because he wants ‘everyone to have an equal chance’. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

The family of a 12-year-old footballer of Asian heritage who was racially abused during a match has criticised his local Football Association for a lack of support and said he has received no apology from the opposition team involved.

Sathi Balaguru, was playing in a nine-a-side game for Pitshanger FC in west London, when he was tripped and called an “Indian boy” during a penalty incident. Another player on the opposing side directed a racist Indian accent towards him. Sathi is British and of Sri Lankan heritage.