An amateur football match in Aberdeen was abandoned at the weekend amidst allegations that at least one player was racially abused.
Aberdeen University FC walked off the field around 30 minutes into their Division One (North) match-up with Kincorth on Sunday.
The match did not resume and a spokeswoman for the university’s student association subsequently claimed an “extremely offensive racial slur” had been aimed at one of their players.
It is not clear who hurled the abuse during the match, which took place on the city’s Tullos playing fields.
The Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association said it would await the match referee’s report, which is expected to be submitted on Wednesday, before it could comment.
The league’s executive committee will then consider if action needs to be taken.
Last night, acting Aberdeenshire AFA secretary Martin Smith would not be drawn on the specifics of the allegations.
He said: “I was told the match was abandoned but no reason given.
“We do not condone racism at all but will have to wait for the referee’s report.
“There would be disciplinary sanctions for any club, player or other party found to have been racist.”
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen University Students’ Association said: “Aberdeen University FC walked off the pitch and, subsequently, abandoned their game, due to the use of an extremely offensive racial slur against one of the university players.
“AUSA has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any form and will take all the necessary actions to support the AUFC in this matter.”
A spokesman for the university said it was understood the match referee had “missed” the abuse, despite it being heard by most of the players on the pitch and would not be able to include it in his report.
Kincorth AFC secretary Terry Massie said the club had no comment to make at this time.
There has been growing pressure on bosses of the global game, at all levels, to deal with racism after a number of high profile incidents in recent months.
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England stars faced monkey chants during an international with Montenegro last month, while the problem remains prominent in Europe’s top club competitions.
On Friday, stars of the English top flight boycotted social media for 24 hours to push for better policing of the racial abuse professional players face on the field and online.
Aberdeen’s Shay Logan has been targeted in the past which has left him ‘expecting’ to face racism against certain opponents, he has said.
Earlier this month, Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: “Racism has no place in football, just as it has no place in society.”
