A youth football coach in Belfast has been permanently expelled from his club after he posted an apparent menu of cocaine prices and availability in a league-wide WhatsApp group used to arrange fixtures.
Shocking Details of the Post
The message, which was posted on Wednesday and later deleted, listed prices for what were described as "proper pure bags". The post went beyond mere pricing, specifying detailed times for collection, meeting locations, and insisting on cash payment. This brazen act occurred in a group chat that reportedly includes about 400 coaches from 300 different grassroots teams, making the breach of trust particularly severe.
Swift Action and Club Response
The Belfast club involved acted with urgency, issuing a statement confirming the coach's immediate and permanent removal. "This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable within our club," the club stated, emphasising its commitment to putting the best interests of its players first. The club also confirmed that its vetting procedures for coaches adhere to official Irish Football Association guidelines, but the incident has nonetheless caused significant shock.
League's Position and Wider Context
The FonaCab Development League, which oversees the competition, clarified that while it cannot monitor every message between coaches, it has clear expectations for behaviour. "Any conduct that breaches safeguarding or professionalism will be addressed immediately," a league spokesperson said. The league confirmed it does not directly employ coaches, so cannot sack individuals, but has removed the coach from its fixtures group and activated its safeguarding procedures.
The incident sheds light on a broader issue in Northern Ireland. According to the health department's substance misuse database, of those who consume illegal drugs in the region, almost half – 46.4% – use cocaine.
