An amateur football club folded last night after a row erupted with a rival over “disgusting” online taunts about the death of a teenager.
East Kilbride club Bonomy FC condemned Kirkintilloch Harp AFC after jibes were heard on an Instagram video following a match between the two sides.
It is believed the comments were about Alex Lindsay, 18, who died following a mental health struggle.
Kirkintilloch Harp last night said the club were permanently shutting down as a result of the incident.
Bonomy manager Jack Pate, who helped set up the team in memory of best friend Alex following his death three years ago, told the Record: “Mental health is not a joke.
“Alex was my best mate and I carried his coffin. He meant the world to me.
“We want to make a stance as a club and want to make the point that this isn’t acceptable from clubs at any level.
“It’s disgusting behaviour. People can learn from this and hopefully they learn from it in the future.”
Bonomy played rival Football Central Sunday AFL side Kirkintilloch Harp for a second week running and were beaten 3-2 in a tense clash after defeating their rivals in the first match.
A live video later appeared on Instagram showing a Kirkintilloch representative addressing the East Kilbride club as several men sat around a pub table.
But the clip sparked outrage after a voice is heard in the background saying “six feet under” and “to Alex, your dead friend”.
Alex – Alexander Iain Bonomy Lindsay – was found dead in his St Leonards home in July 2018. There were no suspicious circumstances.
His friends launched Bonomy FC in his memory last year, raising thousands for charities including Alex’s mum’s charity, Adored.
Manager Jack said: “The game was getting feisty but it wasn’t until Sunday night I saw the Instagram live. Everybody was raging.
“It’s down to the league to decide whether they’re kicked out but the amount of teams that have come out in support is amazing.”
Bonomy FC told supporters it was “absolutely lost for words” about what had happened.
It added: “This is a situation that’s needs to be taken very seriously. Mental health has never and won’t ever be a joke, never mind when it’s come from a group of lads competing for 90 minutes on a Sunday afternoon.”
Kirkintilloch Harp said last night: “Following yesterday’s events and the apology issued from Kintintilloch Harp to Bonomy FC we advise that Kirkintilloch Harp has folded with immediate effect.
“We too support the fight against mental [ill] health and to that end we would ask that the harassment and threats directed to Kirkintilloch Harp players and family members cease immediately. We wish Bonomy all the best in the future.”
