POLICE PROBE SALAH ABUSE
West Ham promise to ban fan for life after vile racist slur
WEST HAM and the Metropolitan Police are investigating after a video emerged in which a fan can be heard racially abusing Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, calling him a ‘f***ing Muslim c***’.
The footage, filmed on a mobile phone in the home section of the London Stadium during Monday night’s 1-1 draw, shows Salah as he is taking a corner.
A man can be heard shouting towards the 26-year-old Egyptian: ‘Salah, you f***ing Muslim, f***ing Muslim c***. F*** off.’
The FA alerted West Ham to the video yesterday and demanded an immediate investigation. The club have promised the perpetrator will receive a lifetime ban if he can be identified.
As well as the footage, it has also been claimed Salah was called a ‘terrorist’ while Sadio Mane was told to get off his ‘prayer mat’ during his goal celebration when he knelt down on the pitch.
The latter allegations, made by a Liverpool fan who says he was sitting in a West Ham section, will be harder to investigate as neither incident was caught on camera.
Anti-racism group Kick It Out branded the Salah video ‘disgraceful’ and said in a statement: ‘We are dismayed to see yet another high-profile incident of discrimination in English football. We have informed the club, the FA and the UK Football Policing Unit and have offered our support to the investigation, which is already underway.
‘We are pleased that West Ham officials have expressed their determination to identify the supporter and take firm action — this type of behaviour is simply unacceptable and must be challenged swiftly and decisively.’
Steve Rotheram, the metro mayor of Liverpool City Region, previously praised Salah for helping to tackle Islamophobia and ‘breaking down barriers’.
The Met are reviewing the footage and said: ‘No arrests have been made and enquiries continue. Anyone who witnesses inappropriate behaviour during a match is urged to bring it to the attention of a steward or police officer.’
West Ham are studying CCTV footage from inside the stadium and are working with the police. They hope they can identify the culprit quickly.
A club spokesperson said: ‘At West Ham United, we have a zero-tolerance policy to any form of violent or abusive behaviour. We are an inclusive football club.
‘Regardless of age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability, everyone is warmly welcomed at London Stadium.
‘Anyone identified committing an offence will have their details passed to the police and will face a lifetime ban from London Stadium.
‘There is no place for this kind of behaviour at our stadium.’
Miqdaad Versi, media spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain, wrote on Twitter: ‘Deeply disappointing to see such disgusting Islamophobia from what appears to be West Ham supporters calling Mo Salah a “f***ing Muslim c***”.
‘This is unacceptable and I hope the individual is found and banned from future matches.’