Tamworth forward Chris Wreh has revealed he made himself unavailable for the club’s midweek match due to feeling insufficiently supported after being subjected to online racial abuse following their FA Cup third-round loss.
Wreh, 28, came on as a second-half substitute in the part-time National League side’s valiant effort against Premier League club Tottenham, which ended in a 3-0 defeat after extra time on Sunday.
Following the match, Wreh shared a screenshot on social media of a racist Instagram message blaming him for the sender losing a bet on the game.
While he acknowledged receiving support from Tamworth manager Andy Peaks, fans, and police, Wreh expressed disappointment over the club’s lack of a public statement. He claimed that only one club official had reached out since he posted the message, stating the club preferred to handle the issue internally.
In response, Wreh opted not to participate in Tamworth’s Birmingham Senior Cup third-round game against Boldmere St Michaels on Tuesday.
“Incidents like this highlight the ongoing issue of racism,” Wreh wrote in a message posted to his X and Instagram accounts., “It is shameful to be racially abused by someone simply because they lost a bet, but sadly this happens all too often.
“While I have the utmost respect for my manager, who has supported me throughout this issue, I am disappointed that the club has not publicly supported me yet, which has left me feeling confused and disappointed.
“At no point was I asked if I was OK, instead I was informed that the silence was due to a desire to keep the matter internal. I cannot agree with or condone this approach.
“If these incidents are kept ‘in-house’, they will never be addressed. I hope everyone understands my reasons for speaking out.”
BBC Sport has reached out to Tamworth FC for a statement regarding the situation.
Chris Wreh, who joined Tamworth in 2023, has played for several clubs, including Hartlepool United, Southend United, and Banbury United. The club currently sits 16th in the National League, the fifth tier of English football.
In the aftermath of Sunday’s FA Cup tie, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou also criticized a section of Tamworth supporters for abusive remarks directed at him during the match.