A weekend youth football game between two peewee football teams on Amherst Community Field ended abruptly after a child on one team called a peer opponent a racial slur.
A weekend youth football game between two peewee teams on Amherst Community Field ended abruptly after a child on one team called a peer opponent a racial slur.
The incident began when Kordell London, 9, a member of the Amherst Hurricanes peewee football team, called out to referees over an illegal tackle he believed an opposing Ludlow Lions player made on a teammate, according to Stacia London, Kordell's mother.
The Ludlow Lions player responded by telling him to mind his business and calling him a "n-----," said Stacia London.
"He has never experienced anything like this before," London said of her son.
The Ludlow Youth Football Association publicly responded to the incident Monday in an email to the Amherst team.
"Our players, parents, coaches and board of directors are ashamed by what transpired on the field at Sunday's peewee game," the email, signed by the board of directors, read. "There is no place for that kind of language in youth sports, or anywhere else in society. This is definitely not the culture and attitude we are trying to instill into these young impressionable athletes."
Regarding disciplinary action, the email said the "has taken action to remove the player responsible for the inappropriate comments from his team and our association all together, he will not be allowed to attend our banquet or return to play next season."
While Stacia London's own heritage goes back to Italy, her husband and Kordell's father, Michael, is black. Coincidently, he is also assistant football coach at Howard University.
Michael London did not attend the peewee game Sunday -- he is with his team in Washington, D.C. -- but spoke to MassLive on Wednesday.
"It's not about him being a victim," London said. "I spoke with my son. He was more mad that the game had ended than being called a particular word. It's just a teachable moment."
The word was uttered loud enough so there was no disputing what was said. Coaches and parents on the sidelines and officials and players on the field alike heard the comment.
The adults in charge of running the game stopped play and after some discussion ended the game, though play was in the third quarter.
According to Stacia London, Ludlow forfeited the game because they had only had the minimum number of 10 players in the field, and so could not remove the offending player -- as was determined necessary -- and continue to play on.
The score of the game was 24-0 in favor of Amherst at the time play was stopped.
A running back and wide receiver, Kordell London had scored two of his team's touchdowns.
"I think he's hurt," London said. "When I asked him what happened after the game and if he was OK, he said it was 'just a stupid white kid from Ludlow' and he was more upset about the game ending."
She added, "But I think it really bothered him. It was the first time. He's never going to forget it."
Michael London said he and other family spoke to the boy about the incident. He said the conversations became a lesson about adversity and not reacting to provocation, instead focusing on the task at hand.
Stacia said she would appreciate a written apology from the offending player, signed by the child's parents.
Reached for comment Tuesday, Amherst youth football coach Larry Smith declined to talk about the incident.
"I am not ready for a statement on this," he said. "At a later date, I will be."