Millwall FC bans 13-year-old boy for verbally abusing Bolton's Marvin Sordell (From This Is Local London)

Millwall FC bans 13-year-old boy for verbally abusing Bolton's Marvin Sordell

4:53pm Wednesday 7th November 2012 in Latest Sport By Kelly Smale

MILLWALL FC has banned a 13-year-old boy after he admitted verbally abusing Bolton's Marvin Sordell during a Championship match last month.

The incident occurred during Millwall's 2-1 win over Wanderers at The Den on October 6, which led to an investigation involving both clubs and the Football Association.

Millwall FC has banned the teenager from matches for the "foreseeable future" and has offered him a place on one of its education programmes.

The youth has also written a letter of apology to Marvin Sordell.

A Millwall FC statement said: "Firstly we would like to put on record how grateful we are for the support and co-operation we have received from Bolton Wanderers and the FA in resolving what has been a challenging and topical issue over the past four weeks.

"Having completed our investigations into the incident, we have identified and interviewed a 13-year-old boy who admitted a verbal exchange with Marvin Sordell in which abuse was used.

"The individual has been banned from Millwall matches for the foreseeable future, but as a club we also felt, given the boy's age and background, we had a duty to play our part in attempting to educate and rehabilitate him.

"Accordingly, we have offered to put him through one of our education programmes, run by Millwall for All (formerly the Millwall Anti-Racism Trust) in the hope that we can change his outlook on equality, racism and life in general.

"In the meantime, the boy has written a letter to Marvin Sordell offering his apology, which has been accepted."

FA statement

A statement by the FA said: "The FA applauds both Millwall FC and Bolton Wanderers FC for their commitment and cooperation in ensuring a full and thorough investigation could take place.

"We would also like to thank Marvin Sordell and The PFA for their assistance throughout this process.

"The FA fully supports Millwall’s approach in terms of dealing with the young individual responsible through a ban from the club's matches for the foreseeable future as well as offering him a place on one of its education programmes, run by Millwall for All.

"As the English game’s governing body, The FA continues to work closely with our partners to ensure we eradicate all forms of discrimination in football, including the important work Kick it Out undertakes with professional clubs through the Equality Standards."

Bolton Wanderers

A Bolton Wanderers spokesman said: "Following the conclusion of the investigation, Bolton Wanderers would like to thank the FA and Millwall for their co-operation and assistance in responding to the events at The Den.

"Marvin Sordell would like to thank the FA, the PFA and Kick it Out for their support, and Millwall for the way in which they dealt with this.

"Bolton Wanderers will continue to work with, and support, the FA, Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card in their on-going work against all forms of discrimination in football."