Sturridge subjected to racial chants in Napoli
February 21st, 2012 - 5:51 pm ICT by IANSRome, Feb 21 (IANS) Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge was subjected to racial chants after the team arrived in Napoli to play their first leg of the last-16 clash of the UEFA Champions League.
Racial chants were directed at Sturridge and other coloured Chelsea players Monday after a crowd of Napoli fans gathered outside the team hotel.
The Italian club only last week warned its fans to act orderly during the Champions League fixture to be played at the Stadio San Paolo, although there was no mention of racist chanting, the Daily Mail reported.
A club statement warned Napoli: “Chelsea FC finds any form of discriminatory behaviour totally abhorrent and we believe it has no place in society whatsoever.”
Cases of racism have come to light over the past few months on and off the pitch. Manchester City’s players Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli were the subject of racist chants during City’s 2-1 Europa League victory against the Portuguese champions Porto at the Estadio do Dragao Friday.
Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, was banned for eight games and fined 40,000 pounds after he was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s left-back Patrice Evra, when the two teams met in October last year in the English Premier League.
Chelsea captain John Terry too has been charged of racially abusing Queens Park Ranger’s defender Anton Ferdinand. The trial has been adjourned until July 9, one week after the European Championship final.
- Porto fined after racial abuse by fans - Apr 04, 2012
- PSG eyeing Liverpool's Suarez - Feb 16, 2012
- Luis Suarez charged by FA for racial abuse - Nov 17, 2011
- Under fire, Suarez gets support from Uruguayan president - Feb 17, 2012
- Suarez slapped with fine and ban for obscene gesture - Dec 29, 2011
- Manchester City's hopes to progress hang in balance - Nov 23, 2011
- Liverpool striker Suarez banned for 8 games - Dec 21, 2011
- Chelsea says no to Terry T-shirts - Dec 26, 2011
- Chelsea reach Champions League quarters after thrilling win - Mar 15, 2012
- Evra says opponents need to show Man U more respect - Feb 02, 2010
- Chelsea end Manchester City's unbeaten run - Dec 13, 2011
- Rooney scores, but leaves Chelsea swearing and cursing - Apr 07, 2011
- Alan Hansen apologizes for his Luis Suarez's gaffe - Dec 22, 2011
- Evra describes Arsenal as 'a football training centre' with no trophies to show - Dec 11, 2010
- Chelsea crumble under Napoli pressure, Real held in Moscow - Feb 22, 2012
Tags: anton ferdinand, captain john, cases of racism, chants, daily mail, daniel sturridge, eight games, english premier league, estadio do dragao, italian club, john terry, league fixture, league victory, luis suarez, manchester united, park ranger, patrice evra, queens park, team hotel, yaya toure