Metropolitan police are investigating allegations that a Chelsea fan racially abused Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling during the match at Stamford Bridge today. In the midst of the Blues 2-0 upset win, video footage went viral on social media, leading to widespread speculation that the man in the far right yelled racist insults at the English international.
Chelsea Football Club are also investigating the incident, going so far as to say they would issue a lifetime ban to the offender if he has found to have been racially abusing Sterling.
Take a look at the video below, posted by author and Times of London columnist Matthew Syed:
This guy, far right, blue jacket, glasses, screaming what looks like vile racial abuse. Kick him out ?@ChelseaFC? ?@premierleague? ?@kickitout?. Does anybody know him? Not just awful for Sterling but other fans, not least the black guy behind him. pic.twitter.com/UwXUGobkoH
— Matthew Syed (@matthewsyed) December 8, 2018
Here is another angle:
https://twitter.com/NiallMoran_/status/1071496973071593473
“We are aware of a video circulating online in which it is claimed racial abuse was allegedly directed at a player at a Chelsea v Manchester City game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 8 December,” a Metropolitan police statement reads.
“We will review the footage to determine whether any offences have been committed.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.