Liverpool face fresh racism inquiry

POLICE were yesterday trawling through CCTV footage after Oldham footballer Tom Adeyemi was allegedly abused by fans during an FA Cup game against Liverpool.

Officers are likely to be taking witness statements as well as interviewing the defender, who was visibly upset after an incident in the second half of the match at Anfield on Friday night.

The incident adds to the racism scandal hitting football. Northumbria Police yesterday arrested a man after former English Premier League star and football pundit Stan Collymore was abused on Twitter. Last night the man, 21, was being held in custody on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment.

Collymore, 40, who played for Liverpool, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, now works as a broadcaster for talkSPORT.

The Liverpool incident follows the eight-match ban imposed on the Anfield club’s South American striker Luis Suarez for a racist remark aimed at Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Late in the FA Cup third-round fixture, Adeyemi, 20, on loan from Norwich, appeared to take offence at something shouted from the Kop.

Despite reassurances from his teammates and Liverpool players Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard, the right-back seemed close to tears.

There then appeared to be discussion between the fourth official and a police officer down by the tunnel while the match was continuing.

A police spokesman said: “The force and Liverpool Football Club are investigating following an incident that occurred during the second half of the game.

“The aim of the investigation is to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident to ascertain if any action needs to be taken.”