A semi-professional football player in Kent who recently came out as bisexual has allegedly suffered homophobic abuse during a match
Sheppey United's Jahmal Howlett-Mundle reported that a "narrow minded" Tower Hamlets player shouted abuse at him during an FA Cup match, calling it a "real shame."
The player allegedly called him a "gay p*ssy", and the Kent club have since released a statement "fully supporting" their player and condemning the homophobic abuse.
Jahmal, also a full-time teacher, decided to come out to his teammates in July as he felt it was "the right time to be honest with myself and my loved ones," as well as encourage others to follow suit.
Speaking to BBC South East Today, the player said: "I kept my cool as best as possible but it was really difficult holding in the tears while still trying to complete the game."
The FA Cup clash, played in Tower Hamlets, saw Sheppey pull away with a 4-1 win.
Real shame that a @TowerHamletsFC player was narrow minded enough to call me a “gay p*ssy” during the game. Comments such as those will not get under my skin or throw me off my game, and I do understand that unfortunately it will happen again.
— Jam (@jhmundle) August 7, 2021
Tower Hamlets FC have now promised to "take matters into own hands."
The club replied to Jahmal, saying "this has just come to our attention" and asked him for the number of the player's shirt so they can investigate.
"As a club we want you to feel we do not tolerate this type of action and will take this very seriously."
In a statement, Sheppey United FC said it strongly condemned homophobic abuse and "fully supported" its defender.
The club's assistant manager, Marcel Nimani, called the defender "inspirational" after coming out, and he reiterated that the club fully supported him.
Him and Sheppey said Jahmal was "obviously very upset" and said there was "no place for homophobic abuse in our game or society as a whole."
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