The Exeter club apologized on Sunday to former international winger Ugo Monye, now head of the English federation, after his accusations of racist behavior on the part of supporters of the team playing in the first division.
The former player, now one of the voices that matter in English rugby, said he had ‘had enough’ after a fan used racist abuse without being reprimanded by those around during the victory of Exeter against Gloucester. The Exeter club assured in a statement that it would “conduct a full investigation” after these accusations and offered its “sincere apologies to Ugo Monye, a member of the rugby community who is highly respected by everyone in our club.
The former England international (2002-2005) was indignant on Twitter after the meeting, claiming to have heard racist insults: “Not one person said a word, nor protested, nor denounced him”, -he writes. “He left after a slight scuffle and the supporters are now telling me “We are with you” (…) You were not with me when you witnessed the most obvious racist act I have seen in the part of a supporter during a match. I’m so tired of it,” he added.
Monye, 40, is the chair of the English FA’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. “This behavior will not be tolerated in our club, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” the Exeter club insisted.