Middlesbrough Football Club have condemned “violent and racist scenes” witnessed in the town on Sunday 4 August 2024.
Amidst a wave of protests and rioting over the past week, Middlesbrough saw an initial protest march on 4 August descend into anarchy with a carer’s car set ablaze amidst attacks on Cleveland Police and BAME community.
Teesside University, businesses, residents and homes were also targeted within the chaos.
The disgraceful racist scenes even saw rioters stop traffic to check if drivers were “white” or “English”, before letting certain cars continue on their journey unlike others.
Middlesbrough FC carefully considered their response and have now released a statement through chairman, Steve Gibson alongside Labour MP, Andy McDonald and Middlesbrough Mayor, Chris Cooke criticising the debacle.
All three parties iterated their condemnation of “the violent and racist scenes…” witnessed, and have vowed to “not accept such behaviour” within the town or any other part of the UK.
They went on to praise the community for it’s “proud and inclusive” nature which has seen the town and club welcome people from across the globe, may it be to work, study, raise families and build the communities into a multicultural society.
Boro along with McDonald and Cooke described those who participated in the rioting as “scurrilous individuals” who “do not represent the true values of the people of Middlesbrough.”
Gibson, McDonald and Cooke proceeded to state that any future violence “will not be accepted” within the town, and have given Cleveland Police plus local courts full support in initiating “the strongest possible action” in terms of punishment.
Monday 5 August saw residents and volunteers show “solidarity” in cleaning up the debris left strewn across the town, with the club, McDonald and Cooke keen to work with locals to showcase “true character and values.”
Boro will now continue to prepare for their season-opener against Swansea in the Championship on Saturday 10 August, live on Sky Sports + in the UK.
Full statement can be found below.
We utterly condemn the violent and racist scenes we have seen on the streets of Middlesbrough. We will not accept such behaviour in our town or anywhere else.
We in Middlesbrough have a proud and inclusive history. Over the centuries our town and our football club have welcomed people from across the world to come here to work, to study, to raise their families and build our communities. We respect each other and celebrate the fullness and richness of all our diverse histories and cultures.
Those scurrilous individuals – who attacked innocent people, their vehicles, their homes, their businesses, as well as attacking our brave police officers, the new homes in our town and our University- do not represent the true values of the people of Middlesbrough.
Violence will not be accepted in any way, shape or form anywhere in Middlesbrough – not against our historic buildings, not against our institutions and absolutely not against our communities and our people.
We support the strongest possible action against those who have taken part in these awful events and we support the continued efforts of our Police and prosecutors to hold them to account.
Our community, in response to the dreadful events, has already demonstrated its solidarity with those affected by the appalling behaviour of the minority and we resolve to continue to work with them and move forward in the spirit of the best of Middlesbrough, our true character and values.
Andy McDonald, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Chris Cooke, Mayor of Middlesbrough
Steve Gibson, Middlesbrough Football Club Chairman
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