Airdrie issue lifetime ban to supporter after alleged racial abuse of East Kilbride midfielder Joao Balde

Airdrieonians have asked Police Scotland to investigate an allegation of racist abuse towards East Kilbride’s Portuguese midfielder Joao Balde by one of their own supporters.

The Championship outfit were sent spinning out of the SPFL Trust Trophy on penalties after a 1-1 draw with the Lowland League champions at the Albert Bartlett Stadium on Saturday.

East Kilbride’s victory was marred by allegations of a home supporter walking to the front of the stand and calling midfielder Joao Balde a ‘black b******’.

Insult was added to injury when incensed visiting striker Cammy Elliott was booked for remonstrating with the abuser as he fled, pursued by a steward.

Airdrie claim they have identified the individual concerned and issued a lifetime ban from their home ground before handing the details to Police Scotland.

‘The club are aware of an incident which took place following Saturday’s match against East Kilbride,’ said a club statement.

Lisbon-born Balde has played for a host of clubs across Scotland’s lower divisions

‘The perpetrator of the incident, in which an East Kilbride player was subjected to racial abuse, has been identified and issued with a lifetime ban.

‘Airdrieonians Football Club operates a zero-tolerance policy towards racism. All information gathered and witness statements have been delivered to Police Scotland, who will now take control of this matter.’

East Kilbride had earlier called on the Championship side to deal with the matter ‘appropriately and thoroughly’.

The latest in a number of allegations of racist behaviour to blight the Diamonds, East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy told Mail Sport: ‘At the final whistle our fans were at the far end and the players and the staff made our way down to celebrate with them.

‘What we assume was an Airdrie fan came down to the very front of the stand and started shouting profanities. Within that he called Joao Balde a “black b******”.

‘A few of our players reacted and he then turned and walked back to the stand steps to leave. One of the stewards said he would deal with it and ran after him.

East Kilbride manager Mick Kennedy has called on the authorities to get tough on racism

‘Joao was shocked and disappointed. I think his team-mates took it worse than Joao himself. Cammy Elliott was actually booked because of his reaction to what happened.

‘I think football has done a hell of a lot of work over the years to try and manage this issue and anyone identified behaving like this needs to be dealt with robustly. My own opinion is that the police should be called in to deal with it.

‘After we scored the winning penalty, another fan ran on to the pitch and tried to attack John Robertson. A steward had to pull him back and it was all a bit unsavoury at the end.’

In November 2022, former Airdrie player Rico Quitongo lost a race discrimination case against the Lanarkshire club.

Quitongo claimed he was racially abused by an Airdrie fan during a game with Queen’s Park in September 2021. The club carried out an investigation but it was subsequently dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence’.

The defender said the club failed to investigate properly and claimed he was the victim of racial discrimination.

During the employment tribunal, Airdrieonians denied the allegations and disputed further claims that an element of its support had a history of racism.

Earlier this month, an Airdrie fan who made a Nazi salute during a game against Partick Thistle was banned from football matches for four years.