Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday Condemn Alleged Racist Gesture Towards Player

Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday, English soccer clubs, have jointly denounced an apparent “racist gesture” directed at Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer during their recent match. The incident occurred during a Championship match at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium, where Coventry emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline.

Kasey Palmer, who is Black, reported experiencing “monkey chants” from a “couple” of fans during the game. Taking to social media, Palmer expressed his disappointment and condemned racism, emphasizing that such behavior has no place in football or society. Despite the incident, he acknowledged the widespread support he received and emphasized the positive aspects of fan bases.

In response to the alleged racist incident, Coventry owner Doug King released a statement on the club’s website expressing complete condemnation of the abuse. King affirmed the club’s support for Kasey Palmer and pledged to collaborate with Sheffield Wednesday and authorities to take the strongest possible action against such behavior.

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri also condemned the reported abuse, expressing solidarity with Coventry City and reinforcing a clear stance against such appalling behavior in football or society.

The incident occurred on the same day that AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan walked off the pitch during an Italian Serie A match due to alleged racist chants directed at him by opposing fans. Maignan, who is Black, reported hearing “monkey noises” and chants from the crowd, prompting the referee to halt the game temporarily. FIFA President Gianni Infantino later labeled the events in England and Italy as “totally abhorrent and completely unacceptable,” emphasizing the need for decisive actions, including education and the possibility of an automatic forfeit for teams whose fans engage in racism, leading to a match abandonment. Infantino also advocated for worldwide stadium bans and criminal charges for individuals involved in racist behavior.