Fan arrested in Liverpool race row

Oldham Athletic's Tom Adeyemi is restrained after being abused by fans on the Kop during the FA Cup third round match against Liverpool at Anfield on Friday in Liverpool, England. (GETTY)

Published Sunday, January 08, 2012

By AFP

A 20-year-old man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence during Liverpool’s FA Cup clash with Oldham.

Oldham player Tom Adeyemi was allegedly abused by fans at Anfield’s Kop end during Friday’s third round game which Liverpool won 5-1.

The incident comes as Liverpool are on the defensive over the handling of the Luis Suarez affair.

Adeyemi who is on loan from Premier League side Norwich, seemed to be in tears, and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard moved across to the corner of the ground where the incident occurred, and comforted the 20-year-old.

A police spokesman said: “Merseyside Police can confirm that tonight a 20-year-old man from the Aintree area of Merseyside has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence following an incident at Anfield on Friday evening.

“The man is currently in custody being interviewed by detectives.”

Liverpool said they are also investigating the incident.

“We take this matter extremely seriously and have today provided the police with the evidence we currently have available to us,” said a club statement.

“This includes CCTV coverage and still photography of what we believe to be the relevant part of the stadium, statements from matchday stewards in that area and full access to all the footage captured by the cameras filming the match for our in-house TV operation.

“In addition, we have examined records of the tickets purchased in that part of the ground to see if they provide any additional information and have passed that on to the police.

“Finally, we would also urge any of our supporters who witnessed this incident or saw the individual involved and who have not already done so, to contact either the club or the police.”

A report on The Guardian newspaper’s website late Friday cited witnesses saying Liverpool fans wearing Suarez t-shirts had racially abused Adeyemi.

The incident comes after the controversy that has raged over Liverpool striker Suarez, who was fined £40,000 ($62,000) and banned for eight matches for racist abuse of Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

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