Soccer Sevens organisers silent over Peter Beardsley’s absence amid FA probe into bullying and racist language
- UK media say there were concerns the ex-Newcastle United youth coach would bump into some of the players who previously played for him
- The Playon Pros team Beardsley was supposed to line up for was already moved to another hotel
The 58-year-old Beardsley was set to turn out for the Playon Pros team in the Masters B competition at Hong Kong Football Club, with organisers even moving the veterans team from the Park Lane Hotel to lessen the chances of the ex-coach bumping into young players he used to work with.
There was also concern of interaction as players walked on and off the pitch during the three-day tournament, which starts on Friday.
However, he withdrew from the Playon Pros squad before he was due to fly out to Hong Kong. Newcastle are the defending Hong Kong champions.
Organisers declined to comment on Friday when approached by the South China Morning Post. British media had reported this week that tournament organisers were uncomfortable with the coverage of Beardsley’s racism charges after Playon Pros manager Viv Anderson announced in April that he would be part of the squad.
David James, Darren Bent, Michael Gray and Emile Heskey are among the former pros on the Playon Pros team.
Newcastle United terminated Beardsley’s contract last month after a 14-month investigation into the claims brought by several players accusing him of bullying and racism. Reports indicate some of the players who made accusations against Beardsley are in Hong Kong for the tournament.
Beardsley has denied the charges and has protested his innocence since the allegations first surfaced in January, 2018.
The English Football Association (FA) launched an investigation after Newcastle dismissed Beardsley after a 14-month investigation without disclosing its findings.
The Sun newspaper, in March, quoted Beardsley defending himself during an event in Tyneside.
“Most of you in this room will realise that I’m not a bully and I’m not a racist,” he was quoted as saying. “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, knows what I am. I’m comfortable with what I am. It is what it is, I’m just ready to move on.”
Newcastle suspended Beardsley in January 2018 following a complaint from Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, reported The Sun, accusing the former coach of bullying with a number of teammates supporting him with written statements.
Beardsley was also accused of racist abuse towards Togo-born defender Yannick Aziakonou.
One of the incidents reportedly occurred during an adventure course. Beardsley, after watching two African players struggling to climb a piece of apparatus, reportedly said: “Why are you taking so long? Your lot should be good at this.”
