Published : Oct. 7, 2012 - 20:19
LONDON (AP) ― A Bolton player said he and several teammates were subject to racist abuse by Millwall fans during a second-tier match on Saturday.
Striker Marvin Sordell wrote on Twitter after a 2-1 loss at Millwall on Saturday that the racist taunts by fans of the London club were ignored by police. The Football Association has launched an investigation.
Lee Chung-yong, Darren Pratley and Benik Afobe also were targeted by Millwall supporters, Sordell said.
“Putting the match aside, its 2012 in england and people are still shouting racial abuse at a football game!? (hash tag) Shocking,” Sordell tweeted. “Chungy, Pratts, Benik and i had all sorts of things said to us. The police were standing yards away and did nothing...”
Lee Chung-yong
The England U21 international said he was called a “slave” by the fans.
“Millwall and Bolton Wanderers are investigating allegations made by Bolton player Marvin Sordell that he was subjected to racial abuse by an individual whilst warming up as a substitute during Saturday’s Championship clash at The Den,” Millwall said in a statement. “The two clubs remain determined to do everything in their power to ensure that racist behavior will not be tolerated.
“We will be speaking to the police and the match officials on this matter but no further comment will be made until this process has been completed and the investigations have been concluded.”
The abuse came a day after the FA released the written reasons for giving Chelsea captain John Terry a four-match ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year.
Last season, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for directing a racial slur at Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in a match.
A Liverpool fan was accused of racially abusing Oldham player Tom Adeyemi during an FA Cup match at Anfield last season.