'We'll smile playing football despite racist abuse'

Screamer Alliance FC is made up of members of London's Chinese community

A women's football team made up of Chinese players have said they will not be deterred from playing after being subjected to racist abuse.

Members of Screamer Alliance FC said they found about 20 teenagers on their pre-booked pitch in Barnard Park, Islington, north London, on Saturday. The group refused to leave, took equipment and hurled footballs while shouting racist slurs.

Anna, a player on the team, said one woman was kicked in the head during the attack, adding that while they were "scared" they will continue to play with "smiles on our faces".

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Officers quickly attended and spoke to the women and the alleged suspects – who made counter-allegations."

Anna, who did not wish to share her full name, told BBC Radio London: "We kindly asked them to leave, showed them our booking reference, but they were very reluctant, making all sorts of excuses."

She said the teenagers only moved once the team began setting up, keeping some of the nets and forcing the women to train in a smaller area of the pitch.

"We were not physically as strong as those teenage boys and they were greater in number as well. So we were quite anxious," Anna said.

The teenagers then began hurling footballs at the women as they trained.

"A lot of players were hit on the body and hurt, including myself," Anna said. "And that's when I heard racist slurs and other abusive words shouted at us."

She added that the fear quickly turned into anger at being targeted. "It's 2025. Why are things like that still happening?"

The team called the Metropolitan Police to report the attack and the park's manager told them he would report it to his superiors within Islington Council.

"Further inquiries were made at the scene including speaking to independent witnesses. Neither party wished to substantiate an allegation but a report was taken and the matter has been recorded as a hate crime," the Met Police spokesperson said, adding that officers left the park with the women to ensure their safety.

The club's chair, Ruoqi, said she feared the violence could discourage newcomers from taking part.

"I was really worried what trauma this could leave in people's minds," she said. "But after the story was shared online, the support we received really changed the narrative.

"It shifted focus from hate towards love, support and community."

Messages of solidarity have come from other women's clubs as well as organisations including the London FA, Islington Council and the Frank Soo Foundation.

Several teams have pledged to join Screamer Alliance at training this weekend in a show of solidarity.