Jewish footballer called a “f****** Jew” during match

A Jewish footballer has claimed he was called a “f****** Jew” by a former teammate of his during a football match at the weekend.

Scott Shulton, who plays for sixth-tier side Hemel Hempstead in the National League South, says he was racially abused during his side’s 2-1 win at Braintree Town – whom he was playing for at the start of the season.

The midfielder reported the incident to the referee after the game, who mentioning it in his report, means it will be passed onto the Football Association, who will be set to investigate the incident.

Shulton told Jewish News: “As soon as he said it, I grabbed him by the throat and then other players got involved before the referee came over. He didn’t hear what was said, neither did the assistant referee so it was my word against his. The referee said he would either give us both a card or just speak to us, he did the latter.

“I then spoke to him afterwards in the changing room, he said he’d put it in his report, which means it will be passed onto the FA.

“Having played at Braintree earlier this season, it was a game I was looking forward to and I have so many fond memories of playing there. But the memories were unfortunately ruined by the anti-Semitic comments I was subjected to.”

Grateful to his current team, management staff, chairman and supporters, from whom he says he has total backing – he said: “This was the first time in my career I have experienced that on the pitch. The Hemel fans were amazing throughout the whole game towards me and all the players and staff supported me and I can’t thank them enough for that.

“The incident has been reported to the FA, Kick It Out are also looking into it and I look forward to the enquiry that should proceed.”

Braintree Town released a statement on their website, which read: “Braintree Town Football Club have been made aware of an allegation made by former player Scott Shulton following the conclusion of Saturday’s Vanarama National League South match at home to Hemel Hempstead Town.

“The allegation was made to the Match Referee Wayne Cartmel after the game concluded and will be forwarded to the Football Association for their attention.

“Club Secretary Tom Woodley spoke with the Match Referee after the game and was advised of the player’s allegation and that it would be included in his report on the match to the Football Association. The Match Referee added that neither he nor his assistants had heard the alleged remark.”

Chairman Lee Harding said: “I was disappointed to hear about the allegation made by Scott. He is well thought of at our Club, having been one of our championship-winning players from the 2010/11 season and he also made thirteen appearances for us this season before signing for Hemel Hempstead Town in the Autumn.

“I am proud that we at Braintree Town have a multi cultural squad with a diverse cross-section of society representing our Club. In my sixteen years at the Club I have only ever seen or heard of one similar situation and that was when one of our players was subjected to racist comments and the matter was reported to, and promptly dealt with by, The Football Association.

“I fully support the decision of the Match Referee to report the matter to the game’s governing body and we will co-operate fully with any enquiries from the Football Association.

“Braintree Town Football Club has never, does not, nor will it ever condone or accept any form of personal abuse or hate crime motivated by hostility or a demonstration of hostility towards any individual’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.”