Kerala Blasters has expressed its deep disappointment and concern with a regrettable incident that occurred during its opening Indian Super League (ISL) match against Bengaluru FC on September 22.
It was alleged that Bengaluru FC player Ryan Williams has racially abused Kerala Blaster’s defender Aiban Dohling who hails from Meghalaya.
The alleged incident occurred during the 82nd minute of the match, in which Kerala Blasters won the match.
“It has come to our attention that during the match, one of our players was subjected to a disrespectful gesture by a Bengaluru FC player. We want to make it abundantly clear that there is absolutely no room for racist and derogatory behaviour in our Club and in the sport. Racism, discrimination, and disrespectful actions have no place on the football pitch or anywhere else,” Kerala Blasters said in a statement.
Further, Kerala Blasters said that it had filed an official complaint with the appropriate authorities, urging them to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident.
“We trust that the authorities will treat this matter with the utmost seriousness and take the necessary steps to address it appropriately. We also call upon our good colleagues at Bengaluru FC to take appropriate action,” Kerala Blasters said.
“Football is a sport that unites people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. It is a platform for mutual respect. We remain committed to promoting a culture of diversity, inclusion, and respect in football and in our Club,” it added.
