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A children’s football coach has been removed from both his club and the football league after sharing what appeared to be a “drugs menu” within a group chat used by grassroots coaches. The individual, who is believed to coach an under-eight team in Belfast, posted an image resembling a price list for various drugs, accompanied by a note warning that “time wasters will be blocked” and providing meetup locations. The message was reportedly deleted shortly after being shared.
The group chat where the message was sent includes roughly 400 coaches representing about 300 teams and is intended for coordinating match fixtures—sharing details such as opponents, dates, and venues. It has been confirmed that children are not participants in this chat. The football club linked to the coach publicly announced on social media that the individual had been removed immediately from his coaching role.
In response to the incident, the club issued a statement highlighting that the coach has been “permanently removed with immediate effect,” denouncing the behavior as “completely unacceptable.” The statement also reassured that all necessary vetting procedures had been conducted following the Irish Football Association (IFA) guidelines, emphasizing that the incident came as a “shock.” The club affirmed its commitment to prioritizing the best interests of its players and that it is handling the situation with the utmost urgency.
The FonaCab Development League, which includes 300 clubs across Northern Ireland, confirmed that action was taken swiftly to exclude the coach from the league and in informing his club. The league also stated that safeguarding personnel had been alerted to the matter. His removal means he will no longer be involved with league fixtures or allowed at league venues. While acknowledging that it cannot oversee every message shared between coaches when organizing matches, the league stressed that it maintains strict expectations regarding conduct. They reiterated their responsibility to safeguard all children and uphold the league’s core values, thanking the many coaches who consistently maintain high standards of professionalism and behavior
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