Arrest made over claim of racist abuse at match

A 20-YEAR-OLD man arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Oldham footballer Tom Adeyemi during an FA Cup game against Liverpool has been released on bail, police said last night.

The man, from Aintree, was arrested on Saturday by Merseyside Police, who are investigating the incident, which took place in the second half of the match at Anfield on Friday night.

Late in the FA Cup third-round fixture, Adeyemi, 20, on loan from Norwich, appeared to take offence at something shouted from the Kop.

A police spokesman said the suspect, who was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association, said he had spoken to Adeyemi about the incident.

He said: “We can confirm that he was the victim of racist abuse towards the end of the Liverpool v Oldham FA Cup tie last Friday evening.

“Tom has given a full witness statement to the Merseyside police regarding the incident and will continue to assist the police fully in their inquiries.”