ZAHA ABUSE ‘DESPICABLE’
FROM BACK PAGE a ghost.” The Ivory Coast star posted on Twitter screenshots of the messages from a supposed Villa fan before yesterday’s 2-0 defeat and tweeted: “Woke up to this today.”
West Midlands Police said: “Racism won’t be tolerated”, while Villa and Palace condemned the abuse.
A Villa statement said: “We are working with police in investigating this extremely serious matter and when the culprit is identified the club will issue a lifetime ban.”
Palace boss Roy Hodgson, speaking before the arrest was made, said he supported Zaha’s decision to make the messages public.
He said: “It is very saddening on the day of a game that a player wakes up to this cowardly and despicable abuse. It is right that Wilf made people aware of it.
“I don’t think it is something he should keep quiet about.
“One can only hope that they will get identified and they will get called to account and they will pay for these actions. There is literally no excuse; there is no excuse at all.
“He is entitled to be very unhappy. Maybe someone was trying to put some angst in the head of the opposition’s star player.
“They are despicable, vile comments which are nothing to do with the game.”
The Premier League said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and the Premier League stands alongside Wilfried Zaha in opposing this and discrimination in any form.”