Former Montpellier player Mary Fowler has detailed a deeply disturbing incident in her newly released book, “Bloom,” alleging that she and another Black teammate were given bananas as a farewell gift by a fellow player. Fowler, an Australian international now playing for Manchester City, spent two seasons with the French club from 2020 to 2022.
according to Fowler’s account, during the team’s final home match presentation, all players received flowers. However, she and her Dutch teammate, Ashleigh Weerden, were notably excluded from this gesture and were not mentioned during the ceremony.
Back in the locker room,confusion arose among teammates about the omission. Fowler recounts, “We shrugged our shoulders, just as perplexed as they were.” She then describes a moment that compounded the distress: “A few girls thought it was funny and then one of the other players came over and gave my friend and I bananas, saying: Here, take these. It was the icing on the cake.”
Questioning Intentions Amidst a Pattern of Discomfort
fowler, who chose not to name the player involved in her book, has sence discussed the incident with Weerden. “Not receiving flowers was one thing, but as two of six Black girls on the team, receiving bananas was not something I could take lightly and forget,” Fowler writes. she grapples with the intent behind the act,posing critical questions: “was it an accident? Was this the only thing in the locker room she could give us? Did she have good intentions?”
Fowler admits to trying to rationalize the situation,searching for any sign of an innocent mistake. However, she states that when viewed in the context of other uncomfortable experiences at the club, it became difficult to dismiss as a mere oversight. This incident, she reveals, contributed to a broader sense of unease during her two years in the south of France, even leading her to contemplate quitting football altogether.
Adding to her difficult tenure, Fowler also recounts an alleged inadequate response from the Montpellier medical staff after she reported experiencing chest pain. She claims the club doctor conducted a brief, five-minute examination, prescribed anti-inflammatories, and cleared her to continue playing. “It wasn’t exactly the control I was hoping for,” she writes, highlighting a concerning lack of thoroughness in addressing her health concerns.
The allegations raise serious questions about the club’s environment and the treatment of its players. While Montpellier has not yet issued an immediate statement,the detailed account from a respected international athlete like Mary Fowler demands attention and a thorough examination of the issues she has brought to light. The sports world will be watching for any response from the club and for further discussions on how such incidents can be prevented in the future.
