Liverpool Football Club have issued a strongly worded statement condemning the 'dangerous' and 'disturbing' racist abuse of Mohamed Salah.
On Thursday, a video emerged of what are believed to be Chelsea fans singing an abusive song about the Liverpool forward ahead of their Europa League quarter-final against Slavia Prague.
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The group were apparently chanting "Salah is a bomber" repeatedly.
Chelsea prevented three people from entering the stadium after the video circulated on social media, according to the BBC, while the club are working to identify the other three involved, who did not turn up.
Liverpool have released the following statement, commenting that they are working with Chelsea Football Club on the matter:
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"The video circulating online, showing vile discriminatory chants being aimed at one of our players, is dangerous and disturbing." their official website reads.
"Already this season, we have seen repulsive discriminatory abuse inside stadiums in England, Europe and across the world; abuse that was captured on devices and put into the public domain. We have also witnessed numerous hateful attacks on social media.
"This behaviour needs to be called out for what it is - unadulterated bigotry.
"Liverpool Football Club believes it is the responsibility of those in positions of authority, following proper process, to act urgently to identify and then punish anyone committing a hate crime.
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"There is no place for this behaviour in football, there is no place for it in society. A crime of this nature has more victims than any individual it is aimed at and, as such, collective and decisive action is needed to address it.
"As pertains to this latest incident, the club is working with Merseyside Police to ascertain the facts around this footage with the aim of identifying individuals featuring in it.
"In addition, we are working directly with Chelsea Football Club on the matter. We thank them for their condemnation and a commitment to act urgently to identify any individuals responsible."
Chelsea Football Club have also released a statement, labelling those involved as "an embarrassment" to the club and its fanbase:
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"Chelsea FC finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour abhorrent and where there is clear evidence of Chelsea season ticket holders or members involved in such behaviour, we will take the strongest possible action against them." it read.
"Such individuals are an embarrassment to the vast majority of Chelsea supporters who won't tolerate them in their club."
Merseyside Police have stated they are currently investigating the video:
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"Merseyside Police is currently investigating the publication of a number of offensive Tweets made in relation to a Liverpool footballer.
"The language used in the Tweets is abhorrent and we are taking the reports extremely seriously. Detectives from Merseyside Police are linking in with the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to the latest Tweet and we understand a number of individuals who are currently in Prague for the Slavia Prague V Chelsea Champions League game have been identified and have had their match tickets rescinded for this evening's fixture.
"We will continue to work with Liverpool Football Club to ensure that those who use the Internet to target others, and who commit criminal offences such as harassment or hate crime in doing so, understand that they are not beyond the law."
Topics:Β Liverpool, Football News, Chelsea, Football, Europa League, Mohamed Salah
