Liverpool apologise to player in race row
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom, Jan 9 (AFP): Besieged English giants Liverpool apologised on Sunday to the black footballer who claimed he was racially abused by fans on the Anfield ground's legendary Kop.
Oldham's Tom Adeyemi said he was targetted during Friday's FA Cup third-round game, which Liverpool won 5-1.
It was an incident which saw a 20-year-old man from the Aintree area of Liverpool arrested and then bailed on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
"Whatever the outcome of what is now a police investigation, all of us are deeply sorry for what happened and our players and our club pass on our sincere regrets to Tom Adeyemi for the upset and distress he suffered as a result of the matter at hand," said a Liverpool statement.
"Our supporters are renowned throughout the world for their outstanding commitment, passion and fairness. They are drawn from nationalities across the globe with widely diverse backgrounds and heritages.
"The actions of any one individual do not represent our fans.
Their stance on these issues is just as resolute as the club's."
Friday's incident came with Liverpool already on the defensive over their handling of the Luis Suarez affair, with the club reacting furiously after the Uruguay striker was banned for eight games and fined 40,000 ($62,000) for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Ironically, Liverpool were on Sunday drawn to face United in the FA Cup fourth round, a tie which will be overshadowed by the bitter legacy of the Suarez-Evra affair even though the Uruguayan will still be serving his suspension.
Oldham's Tom Adeyemi said he was targetted during Friday's FA Cup third-round game, which Liverpool won 5-1.
It was an incident which saw a 20-year-old man from the Aintree area of Liverpool arrested and then bailed on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
"Whatever the outcome of what is now a police investigation, all of us are deeply sorry for what happened and our players and our club pass on our sincere regrets to Tom Adeyemi for the upset and distress he suffered as a result of the matter at hand," said a Liverpool statement.
"Our supporters are renowned throughout the world for their outstanding commitment, passion and fairness. They are drawn from nationalities across the globe with widely diverse backgrounds and heritages.
"The actions of any one individual do not represent our fans.
Their stance on these issues is just as resolute as the club's."
Friday's incident came with Liverpool already on the defensive over their handling of the Luis Suarez affair, with the club reacting furiously after the Uruguay striker was banned for eight games and fined 40,000 ($62,000) for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Ironically, Liverpool were on Sunday drawn to face United in the FA Cup fourth round, a tie which will be overshadowed by the bitter legacy of the Suarez-Evra affair even though the Uruguayan will still be serving his suspension.