Council motion supporting Bristol Rovers' Shaq Forde after racist abuse

A councillor has tabled a motion in support of Bristol Rovers’ Shaq Forde after the player was subjected to vile racist abuse on social media. Cllr Kaz Self (Labour, Southmead) is calling on the city council to work with local professional and amateur sports clubs and organisations to stamp out hate and discrimination.

The 20-year-old forward posted a screenshot of a message he received on Instagram that included a monkey emoji, adding that it was not the only racist post he received on the evening of Saturday, October 26, after he was sent off for two yellow cards at Gas’s Sky Bet League One match at Reading. Rovers responded with a strongly worded statement saying the club was “infuriated” and “sick and tired” of players being targeted.

It said an investigation had been already underway into a similar incident aimed at another Rovers footballer days earlier. Supporters joined forces to display flags with anti-racism messages over the West Stand of the Memorial Stadium during the side’s game against Lincoln on Saturday, November 9, following a fundraiser by popular podcast the GasCast to show solidarity with Forde and his teammates who have endured racist messages.

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Cllr Self’s motion to a full council meeting of Bristol City Council on Tuesday evening (November 12) said: “This incident isn’t isolated, a small minority of so called ‘fans’ of our professional football teams engage in racist abuse. Racism isn’t confined to football.

"Gloucestershire Cricket Club players have been subject to historical abuse. And similar abuse has been reported in rugby.

“There is no room for racism in sport. No individual, whether on or off the pitch, should be subjected to such abuse.

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"Racism is just one form of hate; abuse based on sexism, homophobia, transphobia, mocking of disabled, of elderly people and religion is also unacceptable, not just in sport but in our city. Council therefore calls on Bristol City Council to:

“Condemn the racist abuse in sport in our city; Express our support for Shaq Forde and all those who are subject to abuse; Work with our sporting clubs and institutions, whether professional or amateur, to make sport in the city free from all forms of hate and inclusive for all.”

The motion is unlikely to be debated by councillors because of time constraints.