Former Watford midfielder Pierre Dwomoh has been hit with an 11-match ban by the FA for racially abusing a team-mate.
The 22-year-old Belgian was ruled by an independent disciplinary commission to have committed “very serious” and “completely unacceptable” offences when he targeted a player of Indian heritage, who is referred to as Player A in the FA’s written reasons.
The incidents occurred in two separate occasions during Watford under-21 matches last October and November. Dwomoh eventually admitted to two charges against him after initially failing to “accept responsibility or remorse”, instead looking to “put pressure on Player A to retract”.
Dwomoh, who claimed the remarks began as inside jokes, claimed that “brown is not a colour” to Player A when he asked, “Are black like me or are you light-skinned?” The midfielder went on to state during his interview with the commission that “brown people don’t exist… It’s light-skinned or black.”
In a later match, he asked Player 2, “How is your corner shop going?” and upon learning that he was facing disciplinary action, a message from Dwomoh was relayed to him to “stop playing the victim”.
One of the comments was understood to be overheard by Watford’s lead sports scientists Alasdair Walker who subsequently gave a statement to the FA, after Watford self-reported the incident.
Player A was emotional to the point of crying when he discovered members of Watford safeguarding staff were aware of the comment, with Dwomoh later approaching him on the training ground to claim the comment was “just banter”. The Belgian, who insisted he “did not intend to be racist”, also told Player A that he was “profiting off the situation at his expense”.
Dwomoh announced he had left the Championship club in April and his ban has been backdated to then. The FA were keen to have his suspension increased to 16 game but this appeal was dismissed.
Watford told The Watford Observer that they support the decision to sanction Dwomoh, with The Independent understanding he was made unavailable for selection by the club as soon as the incident was self-reported. The midfielder made one senior appearance for the Hornets last season before his exit.
Dwomoh has also been fined £2,500 and ordered to complete a compulsory face-to-face education programme by 9 August.
