FIRMINO AND HOLGATE FACE FA RACE PROBE
ROBERTO FIRMINO and Mason Holgate will both be interviewed this week as part of an FA probe into claims of racism.
The FA will speak to both players before deciding
whether to bring charges over the flashpoint during Friday’s Merseyside derby.
They will also interview other players, the referee, and the fourth official as part of their investigation.
Referee Bobby Madley’s report into the incident will say that he did not hear Firmino use the N-word – as Holgate claimed – during a second-half bust-up.
TV pictures were clear enough for a lip-reader to decide Firmino used a Portuguese phrase ‘Es maluco, filho da puta,” which translates as “Are you crazy, you son of a b***h.” But he said there was no evidence to suggest that Firmino had used racist language. Liverpool are keen to respect the FA’s investigation and are making no comment.