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Jonathan Leko reveals relief at Kiko Casilla’s racism ban but slams ‘lengthy’, ‘stressful’ hearing and lack of support


JONATHAN LEKO launched a stinging attack on the FA, PFA and top anti-racism bodies over his N-word abuse hell.

FA chiefs have banned Leeds keeper Kiko Casilla for eight games and fined him £60,000 for racially abusing Leko — who was on loan at Charlton.

 Jonathan Leko has opened up on his anguish over a lack of support while waiting for the FA to decide whether to charge Leeds' Kiko Casilla for racially abusing him

Jonathan Leko has opened up on his anguish over a lack of support while waiting for the FA to decide whether to charge Leeds’ Kiko Casilla for racially abusing himCredit: Getty Images

But Leko, 20, claims he had no support from the players’ union, Kick It Out or Show Racism The Red Card during his ordeal.

The West Brom forward blasted: “It made me question whether I would be prepared to go through it all again, were I on the receiving end of similar abuse in the future.”

Casilla, 33, was rapped for calling Leko a “f***ing n*****” — despite the Spaniard denying using racial language.

It made me question whether I would be prepared to go through it all again were I on the receiving end of similar abuse in the future.

Jonathan Leko

But Leko fumed: “I am relieved the process is now complete and the FA have upheld what I have always known to be true.

“That I was racially abused by Casilla in a manner which still angers and upsets me to this day.

“I’ve been disappointed with the time it has taken to reach this point.

“It was difficult to watch Casilla continue to play for such a lengthy period as if nothing had happened.

“I  urge the game’s governing bodies to look into their own processes.

“It was 22 weeks between the incident and the hearing — during which I had minimal contact from the PFA, of which I am a member.

“And no support from anti-racism bodies such as Kick It Out and Show Racism The Red Card.”

PFA chiefs apologised to Leko last night, saying:  “We do not want any player to feel unsupported when going through something as difficult as this.

“We’ll review our procedures to ensure we learn from this moving forward.”

Kick It Out declined to comment last night.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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