Chris Wreh, the Tamworth player who played valiantly in the FA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur, has gone on strike after being subjected to racial abuse following the game.
Tamworth held their Premier League opponents to a 0-0 stalemate over 90 minutes before losing 3-0 in extra time.
A Disheartening Post-Match Incident
After a spirited performance against Tottenham, Wreh revealed that he had been racially abused online by an individual upset over losing a bet. Taking to social media platform X, Wreh shared his disappointment and called attention to the ongoing issue of racism in football.
“Good evening everyone – I wanted to provide an update following the game over the weekend and the unfortunate incident that occurred afterwards. I have been contacted by the Police, and as of now, the incident is under investigation. Incidents like this highlight the ongoing issue of racism. It is shameful to be racially abused by someone simply because they lost a bet, but sadly, this happens all too often.”
Wreh expressed gratitude to supporters and the public for their assistance in identifying the perpetrator but criticised the response from his club, Tamworth, stating that he felt unsupported during the aftermath of the incident.
Disappointment with Club Response
In his statement, Wreh explained that the lack of public support from the club left him feeling confused and let down. Despite his respect for his manager, Wreh highlighted that communication from club officials had been minimal, with just one call made to him 36 hours after the incident.
“To date, I have received only one call from an official at the club, more than 36 hours after the incident. At no point was l asked if I was okay, instead, l was informed that the silence was due to a desire to keep the matter internal. I cannot agree with or condone this approach.”
He further added that keeping such incidents “in-house” prevents meaningful change and emphasised the importance of speaking out against racism in football.
Writer’s View
Chris Wreh’s decision to strike following the incident sheds light on the need for stronger institutional support for players facing abuse. While his bravery in addressing racism publicly is commendable, the lack of immediate action from Tamworth underscores ongoing challenges in tackling racism effectively within football. Clubs must prioritise standing by their players, not only in action but also in words, to foster an environment of trust and respect.