Race abuse councillor suspended by Labour

Jun 6 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A LABOUR councillor has been suspended from his party and banned from all football matches for three years after admitting shouting racist abuse at a black footballer.

David Phythian, 54, who represents the Upholland ward on West Lancashire council, hurled insults at former Wigan Athletic defender Pascal Chimbonda during the team’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in April, a court was told.

The Labour group at West Lancashire council suspended Phythian after he pleaded guilty to using abusive or insulting words that were racially aggravated.

They have referred the matter to the Standards Board for England, a spokesman said.

Phythian, of Evington, Skelmers- dale, was fined £250 and ordered to pay £60 costs when he appeared before Wigan and Leigh magistrates.

Guadaloupe-born Chimbonda, a French international, was making his first appearance at the JJB Stadium after being sold by Wigan to Spurs for £5.25m in August last year.

Wigan Athletic welcomed the ban and said racism had no place at the club.

Phythian is a mem- ber of West Lancashire District Council's bulky waste collection task group, the Lan- cashire care NHS trust consultation group and the West Lancs planning committee.

Labour group leader Terry Rice said it was a “blow” to the party.

The leader of the council’s Conser- vative group, Coun Geoff Roberts, said he was “saddened.”

He added: “I’m surprised to hear that a member of the council has taken this stance. I suppose it’s more something you expect to hear from the BNP, or the far right of my own party.

“I thought people were a little more enlightened these days and shouldn’t say things even if they come into their head.”

PC Jerry Broad, Wigan’s football intelligence officer, said: “We work closely with Wigan Athletic and the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust to kick racism out of football.

“I hope this sends a clear message out to all fans that racist behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”

West Lancashire District Council said the matter was being dealt with regionally by the Labour Party.

Chimbonda signed for Wigan Athletic from French club Bastia for £500,000 in July, 2005, and was voted player of the year the following season.

But fans turned on him after he handed in a transfer request on the last day of the 2005-06 season while still on the pitch.

davidhiggerson