Redruth move fast in race abuse row

The RFU have praised Redruth‘s handling of an incident of suspected racial abuse which involved a visiting black player being  jeered by a minority of the Cornish club’s fans.
Redruth immediately launched an inquiry to find the culprits, warning that those behind the abuse would be banned from The Recreation Ground.
In a week when football has been consumed by the issues of racism in the sport, the RFU’s head of discipline, Gerard McEvill has written to the National League 2 South club to applaud their swift and firm approach.
Canterbury winger Kwaku Asiedu was jeered by a small minority of an 809-strong crowd at The Recreation Ground a fortnight ago, according to an email received by Redruth secretary Roger Watson from the visiting side.
Watson and the rest of Redruth’s officers moved swiftly in order to uphold rugby‘s reputation as an inclusive sport. A message was posted on the club’s website to remind supporters of their responsibilities.
The programme for yesterday’s match with Chinnor – Redruth’s first home game since the incident – featured an article stressing the club’s zero-tolerance approach.
Watson, who has yet to identify those responsible, said: “The piece in the programme says that anybody who doesn’t follow our approach will certainly be banned from the ground and, if they are members, have their membership terminated.”
He added: “We got in touch with Canterbury and the RFU straightaway. The general feeling is that we have  done the right things. The RFU have commended us on our prompt action and Canterbury have been in touch too.
“Unfortunately, there are idiots everywhere and this isn’t the first time that something like this has happened in rugby, I’m sure. But hopefully we have dealt with it.”
Since the incident, Canterbury chairman Giles Hilton has written to Redruth thanking them for their efforts to find the perpetrators.
David Haigh, Canterbury’s Press officer, said:  “The way Redruth have handled it has been swift and professional and we have sent them a message thanking them for that.
“This was a small minority – the other supporters were first class.”
A spokesperson for the Rugby Players’ Association  said: “If an RPA member came to us to about a racist incident we would take it extremely seriously, but this has never happened to date.”
TOM BRADSHAW