UK Edition
Peter Beardsley charged by FA with using racially-abusive language towards Newcastle youth players
The Football Association has charged former England international Peter Beardsley with three counts of allegedly racially abusive language towards Newcastle United Under-23s players whom he coached.
The charges are almost certain to be contested by Beardsley, who maintained his innocence over allegations of bullying and racism. He has until April 12 to respond to the charges and his case will be heard by a three-person independent commission.
The coach, who had been at the club in his second spell since 2009, parted company with Newcastle this month following a 14-month investigation into him. The findings of that investigation have not been made public and Beardsley, through his solicitors, has continued to deny the allegations made against him.
The former Newcastle and Liverpool player, who left his position as Under-23s coach at Newcastle this month, said at a public speaking event in Gateshead last weekend: “I’m not a bully, and I’m not a racist. Everybody in the city of Newcastle has been amazing, for 15 months, they’ve been amazing. I know what I am and everybody who knows me, my family, my friends, know what I am. I’m comfortable with what I am. I’m just ready to move on.”
The FA announced it had charged Beardsley with three breaches of its rule E3(1) and E3(2).
In a statement the governing body said: “It is alleged Mr Beardsley used abusive and/or insulting words towards Newcastle United Under-23 players, which were contrary to FA Rule E3(1), whilst employed as their coach. It is further alleged these words also constituted an ‘Aggravated Breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as they included reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality.”
With Beardsley not working in football at present, any potential sanctions against him would be delayed until he was back in the game. If found guilty, the most likely punishment would be a five-match ban, similar to the one given to Sophie Jones, the Sheffield United women’s player who was found guilty of making racially charged taunts in a game against Tottenham Hotspur. She continues to deny the allegations.
Newcastle had started their investigation into Beardsley on the basis of complaints from a former academy player, Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, who has left the club since the alleged bullying took place and is now at Scunthorpe United.
Ben El-Mhanni’s allegations, which Beardsley denies, were supported by fellow players. An independent appeal last year found that Beardsley’s treatment of Ben El-Mhanni was “generally unfair”.
A 59-cap England international, Beardsley has had two stints at Newcastle, the first of which was when he quit as a player in 1999. He returned to the club as a coach in 2009 and has worked in a number of roles, including briefly as caretaker manager of the senior team in 2010. He was cleared of bullying two Newcastle academy players by a Premier League inquiry in 2003.
In a statement when he left Newcastle, Beardsley said: “The time is now right for me to seek a new challenge and I wish the players all the best and the supporters the success they deserve.
“I have always honoured my contractual obligations of confidentiality to the club and maintained my silence, which has been very difficult. I am incredibly grateful for the tremendous support I have received and I look forward to the future.”