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21 Aug 2014

Mackay, Moody and the ‘sexist, homophobic and racist’ texts

The Football Association is investigating Malky Mackay and Iain Moody over allegedly damning text messages exchanged during their time at Cardiff City, revealed by Bluebirds Chairman Vincent Tan.

Football’s governing body has confirmed it has received a detailed account of issues related to former Cardiff manager Mackay (above right) and his former head of recruitment Moody (above left), who annnounced on Thursday that he had resigned as sporting director from his new club, Crystal Palace.

The dossier is believed to contain details about the pair’s transfer dealings and thousands of explicit and offensive text messages and emails, and is revealed just days after a deal confirming Mackay as the new Crystal Palace manager, fell through.

These revelations are further confirmation of how football is tainted with racism, sexism, homophobia and antisemitism Kick It Out

The Daily Mail reported that the document contained allegations of racist, sexist, anti-Semitic and homophobic text messages. Referring to a list of transfer targets, one reportedly read: “Not many white faces amongst that lot but worth considering”, while another referred to South Korean International Kim Bo-Kyung as a “fkn chinky”.

The “evidence”*:
On the arrival of South Korean international Kim Bo-Kyung: Fkn chinkys. Fk it. There’s enough dogs in Cardiff for us all to go around.
On football agent Phil Smith: Go on, fat Phil. Nothing like a Jew that sees money slipping through his fingers
On an official of another club: He’s a snake, a gay snake. Not to be trusted
On a list of potential signings: Not many white faces amongst that lot but worth considering.
On a player’s female agent: I hope she’s looking after your needs. I bet you’d love a bounce on her falsies.
Sent to members of Cardiff’s staff: A picture entitled Black Monopoly (where every square was a “Go to Jail” square)
(*according to the Mail investigation)

‘The football establishment knows and condones it’

The chair of Kick It Out, Lord Herman Ouseley said that the group was “aware, but not shocked”.

“These revelations are further confirmation of how football is tainted with racism, sexism, homophobia and antisemitism, and the culture which continues to exist throughout the game and in wider society as a whole,” he said. “The reality is that these views are most dangerously held by those people in positions of power, and the football establishment knows and condones it.”

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan sacked Mackay in December 2013, just a few months after the Scot had ended the Bluebirds’ 51-year wait for top-flight football. He had been placed on gardening leave two months earlier.

Mackay then launched a £7.5m legal claim against Tan for compensation and wrongful dismissal after his sacking but suddenly dropped the claim in May and issued an apology to the Malaysian businessman.

Cardiff and Crystal Palace have both declined to make any public comment on the dossier, saying it is a now a legal matter in the hands of the Football Association.