A West Midlands Christian football club has folded after its players allegedly sang a racist chant in the dressing room before the game in earshot of the black referee.
Pye Green Towers FC, originally part of Pye Green Christian Centre in North Birmingham, was drawn against Selly Oak Methodists in the West Midlands Christian League.
The Sunday Mercury newspaper was told that Pye Green players chanted the words used by Chelsea fans in Paris last month and captured on video, "We're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it."
The referee heard the chant and called on a league official to provide support during the game.
Birmingham County FA discipline boss Mike Fellows praised Pye Green Towers' captain, who apologised to the referee before kick off.
However, following discussions with the League, the club left the league and disbanded. The League said in a statement: "All League records will be expunged for this season regarding Division 2 matches that they played in. Fixtures and league tables have already been adjusted accordingly."
League secretary Neil Kovacs told the Sunday Mercury that the team is no more.
"I spoke to the club and they did agree that it was not acceptable," he said. "From a Christian point of view, it has no place in football and no place in society.
"We both agreed that the club's position in the league was untenable. They immediately folded the club. They made that decision."
Fellows told the Sunday Mercury: "Incidents such as the one alleged here will not be tolerated, they will not be tolerated at all.
"They have no place in the game or our society. We have witnessed a rise in race and gender-related complaints. That does not mean more are taking place, it means individuals have more confidence in the way we tackle the issue and are coming forward.
"We will continue to prove that confidence is justified by hitting culprits hard, very hard indeed."
Despite the club folding, if Pye Green Towers are found guilty of failing to control players they could still be fined, with individual players and officials held liable.
