Chelsea to pay former youth players after claims of ‘barrage of offensive racist abuse’ directed at them by backroom staff
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea will pay four former academy players over alleged historical racial abuse they suffered in the 1990s after the victims brought the case to court.
Racism has been a long-standing issue faced by players plying their trade in England, and even in this day and age, this vile treatment of players continues. While not even our hands are clean in the whole issue, there appears to be an understanding within the club to correct past mistakes.
The High Court case was settled by the Blues, and each player will receive a six-figure sum from the club as an acceptance of the horrible treatment of the ex-academy players by coaches and club officials of previous regimes.
The Stamford Bridge outlet chose to mediate directly with those involved, rather than have this issue dragged out in court. By reaching a settlement, the matter now appears to be sorted and will hopefully shut the door on such incidents ever taking place at the club again.
Settlement reached for past racist acts
Attorneys acting on behalf of the former players claimed that Chelsea were ‘vicariously liable’ for how they went about treating their ex-academy stars, who were then aged between 14 and 18.
The former youth products wanted damages for personal injury and loss, claiming they were ‘subjected to a barrage of disgracefully offensive racist abuse’ from yesteryear youth-team coach Graham Rix and ex-director of youth development Gwyn Williams in the 1990s.
These shocking revelations shed light on how the deep-rooted issue of racism in the country worked its way into football clubs as well, with teenagers being affected due to the vile acts of certain people.
One of the former players had alleged in the past that he faced ‘persistent bullying’ involving ‘deliberately offensive racist insults’ by Williams and Rix. The club staff had apparently subjected him to shocking acts, where he claimed that he was punched, kicked, and had hot coffee poured over his head.
It is incredible to think that incidents like these happened behind the scenes at the club, especially by coaches and club officials, who were meant to look after the players and develop them further. The ex-academy stars seem to have suffered terribly under the tutelage of Rix and Williams.
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The accused duo no longer work with the club after Rix left Chelsea in 2000, and Williams followed suit in 2006. Legal counsels associated their alleged racist acts with the Blues being vicariously liable for what took place in the 1990s.
After hearing such damning reports of what took place in the past, it is heartening to see the club try to mediate directly with the players, showing an acceptance of their former staff’s wrongdoings. Hopefully, some justice has been served with the club reaching a settlement with those affected.