FA scores another huge own goal

The Football Association have incredibly taken no action over the outrageous texts that were shared by former Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay and head of recruitment Iain Moody.

The FA have apparently undertaken a "thorough" eleven month long investigation into the language used in the messages at the end of which, according to the FA’s statement, both men have been spoken to "about the inappropriateness of terms used in the messages".

The statement added:

"To date, the FA's policy in cases such as this has been to not bring charges in respect of private communications sent with a legitimate expectation of privacy."

This is an appallingly weak and inappropriate response to these texts:

"Go on, fat Phil. Nothing like a Jew that sees money slipping through his fingers." "He's a snake, a gay snake. Not to be trusted."

And referring to a list of possible signings:

"Not many white faces amongst that lot but worth considering."

At the time, the League Managers’ Association dismissed these racist and sexist texts as just ‘friendly banter’, a quite appalling response to hateful sentiments expressed in these texts.

Kick It Out have rightly criticised the FA’s pusillanimous statement, saying:

"The FA has damaged its own credibility and anti-discrimination policies by taking the decision not to charge Malky Mackay and Iain Moody.

"The FA needed to take a strong position to help prove football's 'zero-tolerance' approach towards discriminatory practices. Instead, we have another example of the status quo being reinforced, and discriminatory practices being allowed to flourish in 'no-go' areas such as within the exclusivity of boardrooms, training grounds and dressing rooms, and via private communication networks.

"How can anybody truly challenge discrimination and prejudiced attitudes in football with confidence now? The apparent reluctance to punish comments and behaviour considered as 'banter' or 'light-hearted culture' within these settings is entirely damaging."

To which we add that the FA’s attitude is totally disrespectful to the large and growing number of black footballers who play with highest levels of commitment, skill, determination and ambition to make football in this country the best in the world. It is an utter disgrace that Mackay and Moody have just been spoken to about what is certainly not, in the words of the unrepresentative League Managers’ Association ‘banter’ but what in most people’s opinions are nasty vile comments for which whoever wrote them should be prosecuted.

Paul Hensby