Kettering Town 'cannot hide' from racism problem

Kettering Town, a non-league football club, has acknowledged that it can no longer ignore the issue of racism within its fanbase. The club's director of football, Fabian Forde, stated that the club cannot continue to hide behind the misconception that such abuse is confined to a small minority of supporters. Forde emphasized that the club needs to take responsibility and actively confront this minority head-on.

He specifically called upon the majority of fans to stand up and challenge the minority responsible for racist abuse. This comes after previous instances of alleged racist abuse against Redditch United players at Kettering's Poppies Latimer Park stadium. Kettering's security team, stewards, and the relevant authorities are working together to identify those responsible for the most recent incident, which allegedly occurred during a Southern League Premier Division Central match against Redditch United.

Northamptonshire Police have not yet received a report regarding the latest allegation, but they encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of a crime to report it to the police. The incident highlights the need for more than just statements in tackling racism, as it requires leadership, accountability, and a collective willingness to challenge unacceptable behavior whenever and wherever it occurs.