West Ham’s decision to reinstate youth coach Mark Phillips after an inquiry into his involvement in  in a march organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance has been criticised by threat racism group Kick It Out.

After a month long probe it became known yesterday that Phillips had been cleared of any wrong doing and was free to rejoin the under 18s set up.

However, it also became clear that this won’t happen until he has attended courses on discriminatory issues and bias, compulsory for all West Ham employees.

Phillips said he had attended the DFLA march and later defended the group on Twitter against claims it was “far right” and to blame for violence with the police and anti-fascism protesters.

But the decision to reinstate Philips has been met with criticism from the anti-discrimination charity, Kick It Out who were among the first to report their concerns to the club.

The London Evening Standard reports: In the interests of transparency, we hope a clear explanation of their decision will be made public. As ever, we are ready and available to offer support to the club around any investigation into potential discrimination – as well as advise on the best way forward when a club representative attends an event which is potentially divisive for the local community.”

ClaretandHugh says:

We have said it many times before and we will again. Football and sport should always remain a million miles apart. Sport, and football in particular, is a world wide bridge builder; politics, as we see in all areas of our national life, is entirely divisive and sets people up against each other on issues over which they have little or no control. Never the twain shall meet in our view. Whether it’s a good idea to stand publicly on such issues when occupying a position of some visibility, is a matter for the individual to decide and Kick It Out’s involvement is always worrying. The Tony Henry affair was an example of that and it’s our hope that following the club inquiry, this latest matter can be put to bed. However, KIO’s response will no doubt serve as a reminder that politics and football is a sensitive mix and are best perhaps kept apart.