PFA and Kick It Out to attend player-club meeting over racism dispute

The PFA and Kick It Out are to attend a meeting today between Barnet players and owner Tony Kleanthous over the racism row that has engulfed the club.

Barnet players have threatened to go on strike ahead of their game with Southend on Tuesday amid a row between captain Jamie Turley and a member of staff over an alleged racist incident.

Turley missed Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Roots Hall and he and the member of staff involved have been suspended on full pay pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the club.

It comes after Stockport County’s Ryan Johnson claimed he was called “a monkey” by a Barnet employee during their 5-0 defeat at home in the National League on Saturday.

Turley is understood to have confronted the member of staff, who reported the captain to the club.

Barnet players are furious and may consider boycotting Saturday’s trip to Aldershot over the handling of the row.

Kleanthous is due to meet the team today, along with the safety officer from Saturday’s match, who investigated the alleged racism at the time. Barnet players have held talks with the PFA and Kick It Out and want Turley reinstated.

In a statement last night, Barnet said police “recognised that the member of staff had a strong accent which could have been misheard and were pleased that a racist term was not used”. Kleanthous said he was “deeply saddened that any of this happened” and the suspensions “are not an indication of guilt”.