Former Dundee United manager Tam Courts says racism played a part in driving him out of Hungary.
Courts departed Budapest Honvéd by mutual consent just four months — and 14 competitive fixtures — after joining the club.
The young coach led the club to five wins, four draws and five defeats and his exit was confirmed after sickening scenes during a match at away to Zalaegerszegi TE prompted showdown talks.
Fans of the Budapest outfit were accused of aiming abhorrent monkey noises at Zalaegerszegi TE player Christy Mazinga, who formerly turned out for Motherwell.
Zalaegerszegi boss Ricardo Moniz marched onto the field during the fixture — which Honved won 2-0 — to confront the referee regarding the abuse and the game was temporarily halted.
Courts once famously held up a ‘Show Racism The Red Card’ T-shirt after believing ex-United star Jeando Fuchs to have been racially abused during a fixture against Ross County last season.
Tijdens een competitiewedstrijd krijgt een speler van de Hongaarse club Zalaegerszegi, waar Moniz trainer is, te maken met racisme. Na verschillende oerwoudgeluiden is de maat vol voor de Rotterdammer. pic.twitter.com/JbjvEEGDxx
— NOS Sport (@NOSsport) October 24, 2022
“It was the second incident I had been involved in and witnessed,” Courts told The Daily Record.
“That was the moment I realised that maybe it’s not the club and place for me to continue.
“Because I’ve taken a very public stand in the past it was probably the last thing that knocked the wind out of my stomach and my passion for continuing.
“I had already experienced one other incident of racism where one of our players was involved that only came to light in the aftermath. The club dealt with that one internally. Even though I never heard this second incident, I couldn’t be a bystander.
“We had one player who I trusted deeply and, after the game, I asked him if he heard anything and he said there was monkey chants. That’s the moment — travelling back on the bus — I thought it wasn’t the right environment for me.”
He added: “If it doesn’t make you uncomfortable to be connected to situations like that, then I think it says a lot about your moral compass.
“The Hungarian FA actually gave the opposition manager a four match ban.
“But they also made Honved play behind closed doors for a game so I suppose that’s a sense of progress.
“At least there’s an acknowledgment something happened.
“I’d made it known [at the club] about my frustration levels at the incident. That triggered a conversation with the owners.”
Now back in Scotland and considering his next career move, Courts insists he has no bitterness about leaving Dundee United after guiding the Tangerines to a fourth-place finish last season.
“There’s no regret,” he added. “I felt the lure of challenging myself in a very complex environment was what I needed at that stage of my career.
“I wanted to go somewhere and really learn about myself and a different style of football. I’m really content with the decision I made. The next thing for me is making sure I choose the right people to work with.”
