A DUBLIN soccer coach defended the bullying of an ethnic Indian player on the basis that his team trains to a song from Slumdog Millionnaire, it has been claimed.
The South Dublin Football League (SDFL) is currently investigating a complaint by Dublin college student Yaseer Mahomed on behalf of his 15-year-old brother Mohammed, in relation to a series of incidents during a recent match between Mohammed’s team Broadford Rovers and Brookfield Celtic.
According to Mahomed – whose family is of Indian descent – Brookfield players shouted ‘Jai Ho’ (the Hindi song from Slumdog Millionaire) at his brother anytime he was on the ball, while the opposition coach allegedly said the phrase to his face at the end of the game.
Mahomed told Metro Éire-ann: “Mohammed was not that upset; it was more his team-mates, they were wide-eyed looking at each other. It appeared to me that they [Brookfield] were trying to upset him.”
He described the “veiled” insult as “very inflammatory behaviour”.
“The intent was to upset someone,” he added, also noting that the behaviour “was not addressed during the game, which I believe led to the heightening of tension between the sides.”
Metro Éireann understands that the match between Broadford Rovers, a Ballinteer team, and Brookfield Celtic from Tallaght was a ‘grudge match’, with prior history between the teams. Tensions were high, said a source.
“The Broadford players and coaches tried to assist Mohammed by bringing this behaviour up with the referee,” continued Mahomed.
“I accept the fact that the referee himself may not be used to dealing with these types of issues, and as a result did not pick up on the singling out of my brother.
“When I brought this to the referee’s attention, he made it clear he appreciated my concern and made a note of it, but had not heard anything himself.”
Mahomed said that afterwards, when he approached the opposition coach, he allegedly replied that he couldn’t be racist as his cousin is foreign, and that his team train to ‘Jai Ho’.
“Claiming that they used the song during training, loved the song and ‘knew the dance moves’, only adds injury to this insult,” said Mahomed, adding that he understands some Brookfield players were also upset about the incident, and believes “ignorance” fuelled the debacle.
Brookfield Celtic chairman Brian Jones said the club had investigated the alleged incidents, and it would be inappropriate to comment further until the SDFL has issued a decision.
The chairman of Mohammed Mahomed’s team, Broadford Rovers, told Metro Éireann that the club was finalising a written report on the matter for dispatch to the SDFL.
The club is supporting Yaseer Mahomed’s complaint, added Dermot Nealan, and is “abhored and disgusted” at the treatment of his brother.
According to the chairman of the SDFL, Rory Walsh, the case will be considered carefully. “We would never deal with a case of this importance over a short period,” he told Metro Éireann.
Sanctions that could be imposed on Brookfield Celtic, if found guilty, include a fine, loss of points or expulsion of the team or personnel from the league.
The FAI is also aware of the matter, according to intercultural officer Des Tomlinson.
“Through the FAI’s intercultural football programme we have been in contact with Mr Yaseer Mahomed to provide him with full details of the complaint process which he should follow to ensure this matter is dealt with correctly and to his satisfaction,” said Tomlinson.
“The first step in this process involves formally contacting the league his brother Mohammed is playing in. All leagues have been given guidance notes by the FAI on how to deal with a complaint of this nature and anyone not satisfied with the outcome, can appeal to a higher level.”
