As confirmed by the Daily Mail, an independent panel has found that Newcastle U-23 coach Peter Beardsley WAS guilty of discrimination towards youngster Yasin Ben El-Mhanni – and the 57-year-old has been hit with a five-month suspension as a result.
Beardsley denied all the allegations – with it emerging in January that he’d been accused of bullying and racism by several youth players at NUFC – however today’s confirmation suggests he did in fact act inappropriately towards 22-year-old winger El-Mhanni.
The youngster made an official complaint at the start of the year and the Mail claim that there’s ‘frustration among club staff and academy players that the investigation has been allowed to drag on for so long’.
Ironically, El-Mhanni has finally had the case resolved, however the player himself has already been told he’ll be released from the club this summer – whilst Beardsley could yet be back after his five-month suspension.
Exclusive: Independent appeal finds Peter Beardsley did make discriminatory comments & his treatment of Yasin Ben El-Mhanni was "generally unfair". NUFC investigation into U23s coach continues & allegations of racism were revisited in hearing last month. https://t.co/DD2ePoTPKW
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) June 5, 2018
It’s a pretty said situation really and very disappointing to see a legend of the club found guilty of such claims.
What do you make of it all folks? Should he have been sacked or is this suspension fair?
It’s a sackable offence in many other workplaces.
Yes he was a great player, but should be out the door.
Porciestreet(Quote)
He should step down, legend at the club but his time is done as a manager.
Swampy(Quote)
He should go now. Legend of a player but not a good coach. As he has been on gardening leave since January he will now be free of his suspension and will be back at the club when the players report for pre season.
Magpie 48(Quote)
Football management isn’t a privileged industry, there are rules to abide by and punishment’s to implement. The offenses were not particularly severe, so sacking may well be too severe, but a suspension in itself does little to improve the man-management skills that are at question. Peter’s refusal to accept responsibility for his actions and his denial that he has done anything wrong complicate matters enormously. Peter’s qualifications and abilities need to be reassessed and training provided or a move to a more appropriate role (ie specialist position adviser).
Quite frankly, though a great player, he has proven to be a bit of a dud as a manager in nearly all aspects of the game. Given his reputation for being an old fashioned and stubborn know-it-all (while actually knowing very little), and his poor attitude to this entire affair, the training required may be so extensive and the attitude of the trainee not so responsive, that training may not be a viable option.
So, a new role for Peter, but what? Having been found guilty of racial abuse, an ambassadorial role seems unlikely. Having been found guilty of bullying juniors, in the after math of the recent pedophile exposure at NUFC, any role with the youth set up would be controversial and probably counter productive for both the club and Peter.
It’s hard to see any real win here for anyone – even the lad whose been abused and bullied, yet been vindicated by an independent panel, has been given his marching orders. It’s a case of ALL LOSE – NUFC loses for their poor handling of the events, Peter loses for being both abusive to young kids and arrogant to everyone else, and of course the victim El-Mhanni loses, almost everything.
Bottom line – if a role can’t be found for Peter and if he won’t adapt to any role found for him, then there is no role for him at NUFC. Not sacked, …just parting ways. 🙁
Peter(Quote)
He can gan an dee a bit more staring in his puffa puffa, the spooky ****
Mrs Beardsley(Quote)