A FOOTBALLER who fought for two years to prove he had been the victim of on-field racial abuse said last night he hoped his case would be a deterrent to racists on the pitch.
Speaking exclusively to Scotland on Sunday, Dan Gerrard said he hoped the successful outcome of his legal action can act as an inspiration to others who find themselves victimised.
Gerrard, a black player with East of Scotland league side Spa
rtans, was twice called a "black bastard". Wayne McIntosh, 23, was last week fined £850 for two counts of racially aggravated breach of the peace in games he played against Gerrard for Lothian Thistle and Whitehill Welfare in 2006.
As revealed by Scotland on Sunday, Gerrard, 27, and his club originally took the matter to the Scottish Football Association.
But after the governing body delivered a "not-proven verdict", Gerrard and Spartans pursued a legal action that concluded last Thursday.
"I'd like to think some good may come of what I have gone through, and that anyone who thinks they can get away with such behaviour might be forced to think again, while anyone who thinks they can't do anything about such treatment might see they don't have to put up with it," said Gerrard.
Gerrard was dismayed with the SFA, branding its procedure for dealing with the incident "not fit for purpose", because the governing body was incapable of punishing McIntosh for his racist behaviour.
Following an investigation by this newspaper, the SFA has changed the way it handles such cases.
Since the case came to light Gordon Smith has succeeded David Taylor as chief executive, a change welcomed by Gerrard.
"I hope it acted as a catalyst," Gerrard said of his experience. "With a new man at the top of the SFA and tighter procedures, it seems there is a greater willingness to tackle racism.
"This has hung over me for two years and it is a massive relief that the court proved I was telling the truth all along, which the SFA ruling left open to doubt.
"It has been really unpleasant to have to keep reliving this.
"It was so weird hearing the verdict delivered and knowing that it was finally all over in that instant and that I could get on with my life. It hurt that the SFA judgment let the player and team involved present themselves as the injured parties.
"They made out as if me and my club Spartans were stringing this out so we could be publicity seeking crusaders when all we ever wanted was the truth to be acknowledged.
"I was twice racially abused by Wayne McIntosh. That has been proved beyond any doubt.
"It is now a matter of record that what I have been saying for two years has not been my 'version of events' but what actually happened."
Gerrard, a former recruitment company employee, admits that his long battle to clear his name, as he effectively sees it, dominated his life to the extent that there were many times he wondered if refusing to give up on the fight was worthwhile.
"For so many people, especially in the game, it seemed that it was the one topic of conversation when they met me," Gerrard said. "Apart from those at Whitehill Welfare, though, everyone in the East of Scotland league has been supportive because they know my character and the character of the other person.
"But it weighed so heavily there have been many occasions when I have asked myself if I would go through it all again if I found myself in the same situation.
"After much soul searching, I have been able to answer 'yes', and I'm relieved the courts took the action that allowed me to come up with that answer."
The full article contains 641 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
