Sheringham Football Club, a team in the Anglian Combination Premier Division, has confirmed that they are investigating an incident of discrimination and threats towards one of their players. The club became aware of the incident last week and immediately took action, removing two individuals involved from all football and interaction with the club. The player who was targeted has been receiving support from the club’s management team and welfare staff. The Norfolk FA has also been made aware of the incident and is currently conducting an investigation. Sheringham Football Club has stated that they will not tolerate any form of discrimination.
The victim in this case, Lagshan Sivakumar, has shared screenshots of an online group chat in which he is subjected to racist language and threats of physical abuse. This came after his decision to play for Norwich Sweeders in the Norwich Sunday League. Sivakumar is an attacking midfielder who recently signed for Sheringham. In his own statement, he expressed shock and disappointment at being racially abused by members of his own team, whom he respected and valued. He also mentioned that some of the individuals in the group chat were known to him, while others were not. Sivakumar highlighted that they threatened to single him out and undermine his abilities as a player because of the color of his skin.
Norwich Sweeders FC, the team that Sivakumar also plays for, released a statement expressing their devastation over the incident. They emphasized their support for Sivakumar and their commitment to standing against racism. As a result of the incident, the team decided to postpone their upcoming game against Young Boys while the investigation takes place. Norwich Sweeders FC acknowledged that racism is an unfortunate daily occurrence and called for unity against it.
The Norfolk County Football Association has been contacted for comment on the matter, indicating that they are also involved in the investigation. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what action will be taken against the individuals involved in the discriminatory behavior. Sheringham Football Club’s swift response to remove the individuals from the club and their statement declaring a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination sends a strong message about the importance of inclusivity and respect in the game. This incident serves as a reminder that racism still exists in football and highlights the need for ongoing efforts to combat it.
