Albion Rovers player David Cox quits football after alleged taunts over his mental health

Albion Rovers striker David Cox has quit football following alleged taunts over his mental health, retiring during the team’s game against Stenhousemuir.

The player, who has spoken openly about his mental health struggles including a suicide attempt, reported a slur levelled at him by Stenhousemuir player Jonathan Tiffoney during the game.

Cos had previously vowed to walk off the field if taunts over his mental health continued.

Albion Rovers have pledged “unconditional backing” to the player in the wake of his retirement, while Stenhousemuir say they will refer the incident involving Tiffoney to the Scottish Football Association.

Cox spoke about the incident in a video posted on social media, saying:

“The second half is just starting, Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir. I have left the stadium.

“I wasn’t playing tonight I was on the bench, one of the boys on the Stenny team… we were having a wee bit of to-and-fro on the bench and they had a wee go at my mental health. Told me I should have done it right the first time.

“So I promised myself the next time it happened I’d walk off the park… I am done with football. Completely.

“Some folk might not think it’s a big deal, I’m f*****g fed up listening to it. Don’t get paid enough for it and if they’d put me on the park I’d probably have broken the boy’s legs, deliberately.

“I tried to speak to the referees about it, they didn’t want to know because they didn’t hear it. It’s the same s*** we’re talking about all the time, we talk about racism and the personal issues that get brought up in football, because it’s not heard by officials or whatever there’s nothing they can do about it.

“So I’m going to do something about it and for me it’s leaving the game. I’m done with it.”

A Rovers statement said the club was “aware of an alleged incident… and have been in touch with David Cox to offer our unconditional backing and support.”

A statement from Stenhousemuir said the club will be “referring this to the Scottish FA and will work with them and our colleagues at Albion Rovers to investigate the incident.”