Barnet condemn racist abuse aimed at Isiah Noel-Williams after Oldham draw

Barnet have condemned racist abuse aimed at midfielder Isiah Noel-Williams on Instagram after his side's 1-1 draw with Oldham.

The League Two match was played at The Hive, Barnet's ground in north London, on Saturday. League Two is the fourth tier of English men's football, so this was a long way from the Premier League, but the afternoon had plenty in it. The kick-off was at 3pm.

Noel-Williams, 23, signed for Barnet from Hemel Hempstead Town in the summer. He was sent off in the 70th minute for a foul on Jamie Robson, his second yellow card of the game. Two yellows in one match bring a red card, which means the player must leave the pitch and his team plays with one man fewer.

Barnet were then down to ten men for the final 20 minutes. Oldham scored in the 94th minute, deep into stoppage time (the extra minutes added at the end of each half), to make it 1-1.

Barnet manager Dean Brennan called the sending-off a "farce" after the game. The row over the decision was the football talk of the day, and then the abuse surfaced.

The club said Noel-Williams has its full support. In a statement reported by the BBC, Barnet said there is no place for racism in football.

For a young player in his first season with a new club, a red card and then racist messages online in the same day is a hard way to end a weekend. Most of the football world's anti-racism campaigns are built on moments like this, when a player is targeted away from the pitch and clubs have to choose whether to speak up. Barnet have chosen to speak up.