Imps weigh up legal action

Jackson: Made racism accusation

Related links

Teams

• Lincoln City

Also see

• League Two fixtures
• League Two table
• League Two stats

Lincoln are contemplating taking legal action against Kettering as the two clubs remain at loggerheads.

The Imps lodged a complaint with the Football Association on Wednesday accusing a Poppies supporter of racially abusing members of their first-team squad and coaching staff during Saturday's FA Cup first-round clash at Rockingham Road.

The FA is expected to launch an investigation into the allegations, keen to eradicate such issues from the English game.

However, Peter Jackson's comments prompted a scathing attack from Kettering chairman Imraan Ladak, who questioned the motives behind Lincoln's claims.

Ladak also slammed members of the Imps support, insisting it was the away fans that caused the greater difficulties to match stewards.

Lincoln chairman Steff Wright is now set to pass the inflammatory comments on to the club's lawyers before deciding what action, if any, to take against his Poppies counterpart.

Unprofessional

"The situation was already a little volatile because of the severity of the accusations, which, let's be frank, are very, very serious," Wright told the Lincolnshire Echo.

"The matter is in the hands of the FA and that's how it should have been left, but their chairman has poured more petrol on the fire.

"He should have left it alone, but instead he took the opportunity to not only question Peter's character, but also attack the football club.

"I think what he has said is totally out of order and unprofessional and it is unbelievable that it has come from their chairman.

"As with anything of this nature we will pass this onto the club's solicitors."

Upset

Meanwhile, Ladak has attempted to defuse the volatile situation by apologising for his ill-advised comments.

"I am not too proud to admit there was a much better way of dealing with the situation and that I should have spoken to Peter Jackson privately about my frustrations," he told Kettering's official website.

"I think my reaction shows how upset we are at any suggestion that our club condones any form of racism and we are as committed as ever to finding and dealing with any offenders.

"As we have repeatedly said, there is still no evidence that a Kettering supporter was involved, but if there was, someone must have seen it and they need to come forward.

"We are still taking the matter very seriously and trying to find someone who saw the alleged racial abuse take place."