Tamworth striker Chris Wreh did not make himself available for the Birmingham Senior Cup match against Boldmere St. Michaels on Tuesday as he criticized his club’s limited response to the racist abuse he suffered following their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup on Sunday, rejected.
Wreh was a second-half substitute for non-league Tamworth against the Premier League side and played the remainder of the match as the Lambs took Spurs to 30 minutes of added time before losing. After the match, the New York-born player shared screenshots of racist abuse he received on social media from a Tamworth fan angry at the defeat.
He received support from fans and manager Andy Peaks, and the incident was also reported to local police. However, in a statement released on social media on Tuesday, Wreh said he was “disappointed” the club had not made a public statement and that a Tamworth official hoped to “keep the matter internal”.
“Incidents like these highlight the ongoing issue of racism,” Wreh wrote on social media. “It is a shame to be called racist by someone simply because they have lost a bet, but unfortunately this happens all too often. While I have the utmost respect for my manager, who has supported me throughout this matter, I disappointed that the club did that.” I haven’t publicly supported myself yet, which has left me feeling confused and disappointed. At no point was I asked if everything was okay. Instead I was told that the silence was due to a desire to keep the matter in-house, which I cannot agree with or condone this approach ‘in-house’ they will never be addressed. I hope everyone understands my reasons for speaking out.”
Tamworth issued a statement in support of Wreh on Wednesday, adding that they are cooperating with law enforcement.
“Club officials continue to liaise with our dedicated football officer and other police partners to assist with their initial investigations,” the spokesperson said. they said in a statement on social media. “As a representative of the club, first team manager Andy Peaks has and continues to communicate with Chris throughout this deplorable racist post, which has been acknowledged by Chris. We will continue to support Chris with the extensive work being done behind the scenes to ensure the person responsible for justice is delivered.”
Wreh has been with Tamworth, who are 16th in the National League, since 2023.