BNP man given red card in football row

Iain Robinson | Monday, 9 June 2008 Source: The Sentinel (Staffordshire)

An honorary vice-president of Staffordshire Football Association has been suspended because of his links with the BNP.

Stan Leese had been threatened with expulsion from the county FA after standing as a BNP candidate in last month's local elections.

The 75-year-old former football coach represented the far-right party in Stoke-on-Trent's Northwood and Birches Head ward, and lost by just 30 votes.

But his candidacy angered county football chiefs, who claimed his political views were at odds with the FA's equal rights and anti-racism policies.

Ahead of the election, Mr Leese, of Woodhead Road, Abbey Hulton, distributed campaign leaflets stating that he had been made an honorary life vice-president of Staffordshire FA for his services to local football over 60 years. This message was attached to a leaflet criticising Stoke-on-Trent City Council's tolerant attitude towards Muslim residents and warning that the city could become dominated by mosques and Muslim culture.

Staffordshire FA chief executive Brian Adshead had threatened Mr Leese with disciplinary action unless he quit the BNP or resigned from the FA before polling day.

But Mr Leese did neither, and appeared before the FA's board of directors on May 22.

Following that meeting, the board suspended Mr Leese from the FA for three years.

In a letter, board chairman Roger Street told Mr Leese: "The board do not believe you are in any way racist.

"They do, however, feel that your action in standing as a British National Party candidate in the local elections was not in the best interests of Staffordshire Football Association.

"The association seeks to promote equality in football and is against any form of discrimination.

"Because of this your membership of Staffordshire Football Association is suspended for three years with immediate effect."

Mr Leese is furious at the board's decision and may appeal.

He said: "I am absolutely disgusted because I don't feel I have done anything wrong.

"I have been involved in football for 61 years, more than 40 of them with the FA, working with people of all ages and races."

Mr Leese, who is also chairman of Abbey Hulton Community Association, said he only stood for the BNP because the party offered to do his canvassing while he recovered from a hip operation.

He said: "I have stood as an Independent a couple of times, but they wouldn't really help with my canvassing this time.

"Then BNP group leader Alby Walker approached me and said that if I stood for them they would handle everything.

"I don't regret standing for the BNP, and had I been elected I would have gone to the FA and asked for their advice on the situation.

"But as I wasn't voted in, I don't see what the problem is."

Mr Walker said the party is determined to fight Mr Leese's suspension on his behalf.

He said: "We feel it is unfair of the FA to take this action just because of Stan's membership to a political party.

"We are going to ask them to explain their appeals process and are taking legal advice from BNP headquarters."