Lyndsey Telford News NI
PA MediaA coach has been removed from a children’s football club after posting an apparent drugs menu to a group chat containing coaches from some 300 grassroots league clubs.
The man, who is understood to coach under-eights at a club in Belfast, shared an image of what appeared to be a price list for drugs.
The message, which was said to be deleted shortly after it was posted, also included a list of meet-up points and the statement “time wasters will be blocked”.
A Belfast football club posted on social media to say the coach involved has been “removed with immediate effect”.
News NI understands the WhatsApp group chat that received the message was made up of about 400 coaches from 300 teams.
The chat was for arranging match fixtures, by sharing information on who each team would be playing, when and where.
It is understood there were no children in the chat.
‘Completely unacceptable’
In a statement posted on social media, a Belfast football club said the coach involved has been “permanently removed with immediate effect”.
It added: “This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable within our club.”
It also said that all appropriate vetting procedures were followed in accordance with Irish Football Association (IFA) guidelines, and the situation has come as a “shock”.
The club said it prides itself on putting “the best interests of players first”, and the matter is being treated with the “utmost urgency”.
‘Clear expectations of behaviour’
FonaCab Development League, which is made up of 300 clubs from all over Northern Ireland, confirmed it acted immediately to remove the man from the league and to inform his club.
The league also confirmed that the relevant safeguarding personnel had been informed of the incident.
It is understood his removal from the league means he is to have nothing to do with future fixtures or any league venues.
In a statement, FonaCab Development League said it could not “monitor or control every message shared between coaches when organising fixtures or availability”.
It added: “However, we do have clear expectations of behaviour, and any conduct that breaches safeguarding or professionalism will be addressed immediately.
“Our responsibility is to protect the wellbeing of every child and uphold the values the League is built on.”
It also thanked “the many coaches who consistently meet those expectations”.