Peter Beardsley is a former England international footballer and Newcastle United captain who has found himself in the news for all the wrong reasons.
He had taken the position of Under-23s coach at Newcastle Utd before being suspended from all football related activity for 32 weeks after being found to have been racially abusive to players by the FA.
According to the Football Association, he has been charged with three counts of using racist language to players in March and has been ordered to complete a face-to-face education course.
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An FA statement declared: "An independent Regulatory Commission has suspended Peter Beardsley from all football and football-related activity for a period of 32 weeks until 29 April 2020.
"The Football Association [The FA] charged Mr Beardsley with three breaches of FA Rule E3 following the conclusion of initial disciplinary proceedings by Newcastle United FC into allegations of misconduct.
"The FA alleged that Mr Beardsley used abusive and/or insulting words, which were contrary to FA Rule E3(1) and constituted an 'Aggravated Breach' under FA Rule E3(2) due to reference of ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality, while employed as a coach of the club's Under-23s team.
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"All three breaches of FA Rule E3 were denied but subsequently found proven based upon the results and findings of Newcastle United FC's disciplinary proceedings.
"Mr Beardsley has also been ordered to complete a face-to-face education course."
According to the FA's statement, the three allegations proved were as follows:
Mr Beardsley made the comment "You should be used to that" to one or more black players of African origin at the U23 team-building event at Go Ape in October 2017. This was said to be an offensive and unacceptable comment and/or a negative racial stereotype that Black Africans would be used to and/or good at climbing trees and/or may amount to racial harassment.
Mr Beardsley questioned the legitimacy of the age of one or more persons of black African origin by stating "it's cos you're not 18" and/or words to the effect of "he's not 18" to or about one or more players of black African origin. This is alleged to be an offensive and unacceptable comment and/or negative stereotype that players of black African origin commit fraud as to their true age and/or may amount to racial harassment. One occurrence of this allegation is a comment alleged to have been made to a 17-year-old minor.
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Mr Beardsley called A, a player of black African origin, a monkey during a game of head tennis. Calling a person of black African 3 origin a monkey is alleged to be an offensive and unacceptable comment and/or a derogatory term on racial grounds and/or may therefore amount to racial harassment.
Who did Peter Beardsley play for?
At club level, he played for Newcastle United, Liverpool and Everton, having also had spells with Carlisle United, Manchester United, Vancouver Whitecaps, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Fulham, Hartlepool United and the Melbourne Knights.
He was also briefly appointed as the caretaker manager of Newcastle United in 2010.
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He also represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain, taking part in two FIFA World Cups (1986 and 1990) and UEFA Euro 1988.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Racism, UK News, Premier League., Football, England football, Newcastle United