Former Newcastle United academy coach Peter Beardsley has been suspended for 32 weeks from all football for making racist comments including calling black players “monkeys”.
The punishment relates to Beardsley using “abusive and/or insulting words” towards one or more black players during a team building trip to the outdoor adventure park Go Ape while the former England international was in charge of the Under-23 team.
The FA confirmed Beardsley said “you should be used to that” to one or more black players of African origin during the trip in October 2017. However, it insisted he was not racist, claiming he had merely committed an act of racist discrimination.
The 58-year-old was also found guilty of calling a player of black African origin a “monkey” during a game of head tennis. While the former Newcastle striker also questioned the legitimacy of a black player’s age by stating “it’s cos you’re not 18”.
The Regulatory Commission also found that Beardsley’s allegation that three black players had made up the allegations motivated by financial greed “did not have a shred of evidence”, while he also did not apologise or withdraw the allegations.
A statement from The FA read: “An independent Regulatory Commission has suspended Peter Beardsley from all football and football-related activity for a period of 32 weeks until 29 April 2020.
“The FA alleged that Mr Beardsley used abusive and/or insulting words, which were contrary to FA Rule E3(1) and constituted an “Aggravated Breach” under FA Rule E3(2) due to reference of ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality, while employed as a coach of the club’s Under-23s team.
“All three breaches of FA Rule E3 were denied but subsequently found proven based upon the results and findings of Newcastle United FC’s disciplinary proceedings.”
The FA also confirmed Beardsley has been ordered to complete a face-to-face education course.
