Racist bus driver orders toddler off bus for wearing 'offensive' England footy shirt

[newspresenter]

A toddler was ordered off a bus because the foreign driver was 'offended' by his England football T-shirt, his mother has claimed.

Sam Fardon, 27, was allegedly told to get off the service with her sons Dylan, two, and 10-week-old Adam as they made their way to a childcare group.

The unnamed driver, who had a Polish or Eastern European accent, said Dylan's white England shirt was 'offensive' and he threatened to turf the family out on the street.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/...96_468x654.jpg
'Offensive': Sam Fardon and her son Dylan Hall, 2, were allegedly ordered off a bus for wearing England T-shirts

But he faced a torrent of anger from incredulous passengers, and minutes later backed down and allowed the family to board.

The bus company has launched an investigation.

Miss Fardon, who also has a ten-year-old step-son, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, said: 'He (the driver) said: "He won't be wearing that during the World Cup, will he?"

'I said Dylan would and the bus driver said: "I find that really offensive. You should dress your family in less offensive clothes."

'I was completely gobsmacked. He said we'd have to get off the bus but I argued with him and other passengers backed me up, so he let us on.

'I think it's disgraceful. I had baby Adam with me as well, but luckily he wasn't wearing his England baby-grow.

'I just think because of the nationality of the driver and Dylan being so young, he picked on him because he couldn't answer back.'

Miss Fardon's partner Chris Hall, a taxi driver, was so angry he defiantly bought England strips for all the children.

Mr Hall, 55, said: 'It's just showing support for your country during a World Cup - there's nothing offensive about it. I will have England flags on my taxi.'

Selwyn Brown, of North Staffordshire bus users group Aces, said: 'It's unbelievable. Assuming it's true, the bus driver is to be condemned.

'Not just because there's nothing wrong with wearing an England shirt, but that it was a little child. It's totally ludicrous.'

First Bus said it is investigating Miss Fardon's complaint, which was made after she caught the 34A service from Newcastle Bus Station, in Stoke-on-Trent, at 9am last Thursday.

Spokesman Paul De Santis said: 'We are fully supporting England's World Cup campaign and will be putting supporting material in all our buses.

'No one should have to accept those sorts of comments, certainly none of our customers.'

Last month the Metropolitan Police suggested that some pubs ban customers from wearing England shirts during screenings of this summer's World Cup matches to stop the risk of violence.

But one fan said: 'We often hear of a loss of pride in Britain, and now police want to ban the England shirt. It's like saying anyone who wears one is a yob.'
Driver orders toddler off bus for wearing 'offensive' England football shirt | Mail Online


You know when the English get proper angry, who's going to suffer? Will you blame the monsters that encourage the anger or will you blame the English?

[Balthazar]

More "poor little white man whose culture's under attack from dangerous foreigners" rubbish. The story's almost certain to be a lie. Oh, but it must be true. It's in the Daily Mail.

[stevectaylor]

The story's almost certain to be a lie. Oh, but it must be true. It's in the Daily Mail.

It can't be The Sun as she still has her top on in the photo.

[Streetwalker]

What a nightmare this woman must be.First she calls her kid by a Welsh name then moans when she failed to grasp what was a bit of banter from the driver.Its not even a proper England shirt ,looks more like something out of poundland, the Husband must be a tight git as well as blind.

[Balthazar]

Could this be the same Samantha Fardon, a woman with a history of hoodwinking people for money?

When a kind-hearted couple took Samantha Fardon in and offered to help her get her life back on track she repaid them by taking money from their bank account, a court heard...

Source

Oh look. The bus company can't find any evidence that the incident took place:

Following an alleged incident involving our service and the refusal of a young passenger wearing an England shirt, the following statement has been issued to the media. Paul De Santis, Commercial Director for First said:

“The claim made about one of our drivers’ behaviour is a very serious one and we have been in touch with this woman several times to try to establish what actually happened.

“We have carried out a full investigation and can’t find any evidence to substantiate this claim. No driver fitting the description given was working on any routes in this area at that time. Our buses were busy around the time yet no one else has been in touch with us about this alleged incident.

“We expect the highest level of professionalism from our drivers and such an act would not be tolerated. However, in this instance it now appears that no such incident took place.

“Far from banning England shirts on our buses First is fully supportive of England’s World Cup campaign and we are, in fact, currently fitting good luck banners featuring England flags on all our buses in England.”

Source

Newspresenter: you are, as usual, trying to stir up racial hatred, in this case against East Europeans, using dirty lies. You've been caught with your pants down.

[angelcountry]

I know all them things, they need to GRILL them sometime, they're always on the race from one stab wound to the other, check their fingers mate. l.o.l

[Midas]

I wonder how many of the more sensational newspaper reports that we see on a daily basis are complete fabrications, made up by members of the public simply to try to get themselves in the media? You'd think that papers would try to establish whether there's something behind reports like this, i.e., contact the bus company before printing the story, rather than just run it though, making everyone, themselves included, look like an idiot.

[angelcountry]

I wonder how many of the more sensational newspaper reports that we see on a daily basis are complete fabrications, made up by members of the public simply to try to get themselves in the media? You'd think that papers would try to establish whether there's something behind reports like this, i.e., contact the bus company before printing the story, rather than just run it though, making everyone, themselves included, look like an idiot.

We are alll aware that, newspaper carries story if printed in exageration most of the time than what actually happens to make profit, so there you go. they could even get paid for advert and eat it without doing the job if i may correct you.

[octopus]

I wonder how many of the more sensational newspaper reports that we see on a daily basis are complete fabrications, made up by members of the public simply to try to get themselves in the media? You'd think that papers would try to establish whether there's something behind reports like this, i.e., contact the bus company before printing the story, rather than just run it though, making everyone, themselves included, look like an idiot.

What you say could be true. However, I have come across this kind of bigoted nonesense at first hand.

A full investigation by the bus company should be made. If the allegations are correct - sack the driver for racism; they would if it was in reverse.

[ryoden]

I wonder how many of the more sensational newspaper reports that we see on a daily basis are complete fabrications, made up by members of the public simply to try to get themselves in the media? You'd think that papers would try to establish whether there's something behind reports like this, i.e., contact the bus company before printing the story, rather than just run it though, making everyone, themselves included, look like an idiot.

What concerns me more is when reporters use the same lack of investigation on science stories such as health scares etc.

[5K3PT1C]

I used to read the Mail and the Express until I realised that a lot of the stuff they print is made up. I trust them as much as I trust the BNP. It's encouraging that so many of you took this with a pinch of salt. Thanks to Balthazar for the further info.