Schoolboy left 'traumatised' after 'racist name-calling' during Motherwell football camp

A schoolboy has been left “traumatised” after another child at a football camp allegedly called him a racist slur.

The aspiring footballer was looking forward to attending the Motherwell Community Trust Easter football camp alongside a family member.

During the session, which was held at the Fir Park Training Session for children aged five to 13, an older child allegedly punched both the boy and his relative.

In response the child was put on a time-out by a coach.

Later, the child reportedly called the young boy a racial slur.

After returning home, the boy burst into tears and asked his mum not to make him return to the camp the following day.

The mum then phoned her partner to inform him about the alleged incident.

The boy’s dad told STV News: “I was very, very angry.

“My wife had phoned me in tears to tell me what had happened. I could hear my son sobbing in the background.

“I phoned the club, which asked to speak to my son. [My son] couldn’t get a word out through the tears.

“After we put down the phone, I gave him a big hug. All night, he kept cuddling me and asking if he was in trouble.

“He was traumatised. He is still traumatised today.

“Something like this shouldn’t be happening.”

After a phone call to the Motherwell Community Trust, the organisation emailed the parents whose children attended the camp.

The correspondence, seen by STV News, states they were made aware of “inappropriate racist language being used”.

It further reads that there is a “zero tolerance” to racism and any child found using offensive language during the camp would be collected by their parents.

The registered charity also wrote that the Motherwell Community Police have been asked to come along and provide education.

The dad added he had to explain to his son what the slurs directed at him meant and why he wasn’t to blame.

He said: “I dreaded having the conversation with him about it.

“I had to explain to him that he wasn’t in trouble. It is very difficult to explain to a child what racism is.

“I had to explain to my younger children what these words mean because they don’t understand.”

The alleged incident has continued to have a deep impact on the youngster.

The dad added: “At the moment, it has tainted his love for football.

“He was supposed to be at football training the next day but didn’t want to go.

“His friends have been asking him to go out to play, but he doesn’t want to leave the house.”

Motherwell Football Club has confirmed they are aware of the alleged racist incident.

The club has confirmed that reports were made to ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ and Police Scotland.

A meeting with the impacted family has also been arranged.

A spokesperson from the Premiership club said: “We are aware of an alleged incident, that took place at one of the Club’s charity partner, Motherwell Football Club Community Trust’s Easter Holiday Camps.

“An allegation was made after the conclusion to the holiday camp on Wednesday that a young child had used racial language towards another child participant.

“Motherwell FC Community Trust have a zero tolerance to any discriminatory language and have reported the alleged incident to ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ and Police Scotland who have both confirmed that the Trust have followed all the correct procedures following this allegation.”

Police Scotland, ‘Show Racism the Red Card’, and Motherwell FC Community Trust have been contacted for comment.