Pierre Dwomoh handed 11-match ban for racially abusing Watford team-mate

Former Watford midfielder Pierre Dwomoh has received an 11-match ban from the FA after an independent disciplinary commission ruled he racially abused a team-mate of Indian heritage — referred to as Player A in the written reasons — during two separate under-21 matches in October and November last year.

The 22-year-old Belgian initially failed to “accept responsibility or remorse” and, according to the commission, attempted to “put pressure on Player A to retract” his account. Dwomoh eventually admitted to both charges.

Among the remarks cited by the commission, Dwomoh claimed that “brown is not a colour” after asking Player A whether he was “black like me or light-skinned”, and later stated that “brown people don’t exist… It’s light-skinned or black.” In a separate match, he asked the same player, “How is your corner shop going?” When Dwomoh learned he was facing disciplinary action, a message was relayed to Player A telling him to “stop playing the victim”.

The commission described the offences as “very serious” and “completely unacceptable”. One of the comments was overheard by Watford’s lead sports scientist Alasdair Walker, who provided a statement to the FA after the club self-reported the incidents. Player A was visibly distressed upon discovering that Watford safeguarding staff were aware of the remarks. Dwomoh subsequently approached him on the training ground to claim the comment was “just banter” and told him he was “profiting off the situation at his expense”.

Dwomoh announced his departure from Watford in April, and the ban has been backdated to that point. The FA sought to have the suspension extended to 16 matches, but that appeal was dismissed. In addition to the ban, Dwomoh has been fined £2,500 and ordered to complete a compulsory face-to-face education programme by 9 August.

Watford stated they support the decision to sanction Dwomoh, who has since apologised and maintained he “did not intend to be racist”.