Kettering calls for action after Redditch player alleges racist abuse

Kettering Town has called on supporters to help tackle racism after Redditch United player Dan Sweeney said he was racially abused by a home fan at Latimer Park. According to BBC Sport, director of football Fabian Forde said the club needed a change in behaviour, rather than another routine statement condemning discrimination.

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Sweeney's allegation concerns Saturday's Southern League Premier Division Central match, which Kettering won 2-1. BBC Sport reported that a match official had also reported alleged racial abuse at a Kettering fixture last season. There was a separate allegation involving a Redditch player at Latimer Park in 2017, giving the latest complaint a wider history of similar concerns at the ground.

In a statement on Kettering's website, Forde rejected the suggestion that describing racism as the conduct of a small minority was an adequate response. He argued that silence from other supporters allowed those responsible to define the club's reputation among visiting players, fans and officials. His criticism extended beyond incidents at matches to racist material on supporters' online forums.

Forde urged fans to challenge hateful posts and report abuse heard at games to stewards, helping the club identify those involved. He said supporters needed to take responsibility for changing the culture around Kettering, rather than protecting people whose behaviour damaged it. The club said it was working with its security team, stewards and relevant authorities to establish who was responsible.

Northamptonshire Police told the BBC they had not identified a report relating to Saturday's allegation. The force cautioned that a report might still be awaiting allocation or could have been submitted to another force. It said it would take responsibility for an investigation if a report made elsewhere concerned an alleged offence in Northamptonshire, and encouraged anyone who believed they had experienced a crime to contact police.

Redditch chairman David Faulkner welcomed Kettering's commitment to identifying those involved, while stressing that the response needed to produce appropriate action. He called for leadership and accountability, and warned against allowing allegations of this kind to be dismissed or forgotten after initial attention faded. BBC Sport said the Football Association had also been approached for comment.