DAVID MOYES has denied a claim he was responsible for a “no Africans” transfer policy at West Ham.
The club’s sacked head of recruitment Tony Henry made the allegation to a newspaper reporter.
But Hammers boss Moyes is adamant the accusation is categorically untrue.
And he even insists he was trying to sign TWO African players on deadline day.
Henry was suspended on Thursday ahead of a full investigation by West Ham but axed last night.
Ahead of today’s visit to Brighton, Moyes was told that, in a transcript of a conversation between Henry and a journalist from the Daily Mail, ‘Henry said it (the ‘no Africans’ policy) was a directive from the manager’.
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But Moyes said: “Well, as we were signing two African players on deadline day, you’d have to say it’s incorrect and wrong.”
Moyes was chasing Leicester’s Algerian Islam Slimani, who was loaned to Newcastle, and Cameroon-born star Ibrahim Amadou, who stayed at Lille.
Karren Brady
RACISM WILL NEVER BE TOLERATED
AS our statement confirmed on Thursday, Head of Player Recruitment Tony Henry was initially suspended pending a full and formal investigation into comments attributed to him regarding the signing of African players.
Having viewed the transcript of his conversation with a journalist, his contract was terminated.
Racism or any form of discrimination will just not be tolerated.
And I can confirm with absolute faith and certainty that West Ham United is a football club built on a bedrock of equality, diversity and inclusion. From our location in one of London’s most multi-cultural areas, to our diverse and loyal fanbase and a globally recognised first-team squad made up of 15 nationalities, these values are at the heart of everything that we stand for.
I could not be prouder of the work that we have done — and continue to do — in ensuring that anyone who steps foot inside the West Ham United family, regardless of their nationality, is made to feel safe, respected and included.
Having been suspended, Henry was axed within hours of the revelation he had implicated Moyes — who called Henry’s allegation “a massive shock”.
In a statement, West Ham said Henry had been sacked “following his unacceptable comments”.
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Contacts of Henry told SunSport he had also spoken of the club’s supposed policy of not signing Africans to scouts and agents.
West Ham have two Africans in their squad while Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew left this week.
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Sakho declared on social media that West Ham “don’t want black players”.
But a club spokesperson said: “West Ham United categorically refute the allegation made by Diafra Sakho and find his comments deeply offensive.”
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