London: A Sheffield United Women’s player has said she plans to retire from football after being given a five-game ban for racially abusing an opponent.
As well as being punished by England’s governing Football Association Wednesday, Sophie Jones also had her contract terminated by Sheffield United.
Jones, a forward, was sanctioned for racially abusing Tottenham Hotspur defender Renee Hector during a second-tier Women’s Championship game in Sheffield in January.
Hector said she had ‘received some monkey noises from an opposition player’ that in turn led to Jones being charged by the FA.
Jones denied the claim and Sheffield United said she ‘maintains her innocence’.
But an independent regulatory commission announced the charge was ‘found proven’.
Jones said the ruling by what she claimed was a ‘kangaroo court’ had left her unable to continue playing under an organisation she ‘does not have any confidence in’.
In a statement published on social media, Jones said: “I would like to state on record that I do not condone racism in any form and I will continue to stand by this statement.”
“I strongly stand firm that I am not guilty with regards to the charge that the FA have brought against me,” she added.
AFP