The father of a young teen who he alleges was racially abused by an adult has opened up on the ordeal and has demanded action from league authorities and Police Scotland.
Jamie Macgregor, from the Gyle, claims that his son Lucas Macdonald, 13, was racially abused during the game between Edinburgh City 2009s and Currie Star 2009’s at Malleny Park in Balerno last Sunday morning (August 21). He says that a man made monkey gestures from the touchline in the last ten minutes of the match after Lucas had kicked a ball away in frustration.
Police are now investigating after the the young footballer was left in tears at the full time whistle. Lucas was said to be broken by the alleged verbal attack but his father says that he is thankful for the support he has received from ex-Hibs legend Marvin Bartley and his teammates at Edinburgh City 2009s.
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Bartley, who is an equalities and diversity advisor for the SFA, sent the young star a touching message of support in which he commended Lucas for his appropriate response and condemned the alleged attack. Jamie says that the video lifted his son’s spirits as the player was one of his idols when he played for Hibs a number of years ago.
On the incident, Jamie said: “The worst thing about all of this is that it has come from an adult towards a young player. I did not see it as I was chatting with other dads on the sidelines but I did see the referee stop the game to have a word.
“At the time I thought he was just getting a bit over excited as the game continued for the last ten minutes before the full time whistle blew. All the young laddies began to shake hands but there was a bit of commotion and I saw my laddie was balling his eyes out.
“One of his teammates had said the man had made a monkey gesture towards him. To be honest I saw red mist and wanted to go over and sort the boy out but thankfully the other dads held me back.
“They said I’d get myself into trouble and it was probably the right decision to restrain me. A few of my son’s teammates say they had witnessed it.
“The police came round to our house after the game to get a statement and said they would be speaking to witnesses. Hopefully the man will be charged following the investigation.”
After the match it was claimed that the alleged culprit denied making a monkey gesture and said that he was ‘just scratching his armpits.’
Jamie continued: “It was a really competitive match and my son booted the ball away in frustration with the game tied at 1-1. That was when the monkey gesture was made.
“He tried to deny it and said he was itching his armpits. But if you are itching your armpits you do not do both at the same time, it's one hand under and then onto the other.
“Lucas was absolutely devastated and in tears. He was wondering why an adult had done that to him and made him feel so low.
“He is 13 and has been racially abused at school before but it is becoming more common. He’s asking questions about it now and we need to tell him that racist folk target him like that. In this day and age you would not think that this would happen.
“I want to know who his employers are as surely they do not want to employ someone who is racist to a kid. Edinburgh City 2009s have been fantastic with my son and he has been given the captain’s armband for their next match.
“They have been checking in on him regularly and his teammates have been really supportive. This is the first time it has happened during a football match.”
Jamie says that he and his partner had decided to contact Marvin Bartley after the incident as they know of the fantastic work he does fighting racism in the Scottish game. He added that the former Hibs player was also a favourite of Lucas’s during his time at the club.
He said that they were shocked to receive a response from Bartley and were taken aback. Lucas was said to have got a huge lift from the message after a tough couple of days.
Jamie continued: “We thought we would message him but thought he is a busy guy so just asked if he could spare a minute to show a bit of support and to say that Lucas is not alone. Unbelievably he got back to us with a recorded message of support for him.
“Lucas was over the moon and it really gave him a boost, he was smiling and was really happy after it. We showed him it after he got home from school and he was just delighted.”
Currie Star football club has been contacted for comment. The Scottish Youth Football Association has also been contacted for comment.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On the morning of Sunday, 21 August, 2022, police received a report of a potential hate crime at Malleny Park in Balerno. Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.”
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