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Granit Xhaka Accused Of Racially Abusing Member Of Staff At Heathrow Airport

Granit Xhaka Accused Of Racially Abusing Member Of Staff At Heathrow Airport

More trouble for the Arsenal midfielder

Joe Baiamonte

Joe Baiamonte

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been accused of racially abusing a member of staff at Heathrow airport on Monday night.

The Swiss midfielder, who was sent off for the second time this season during Arsenal's controversial, late victory over Burnley on Sunday, is reported to have become involved in an altercation in Terminal five of the London airport.

Xhaka was accompanying his friend and fellow footballer Leonard Lekaj, who plies his trade for German sixth division outfit FC Mönchengladbach to Heathrow when they were denied entry to their flight back to Germany after arriving late for boarding.

According to The Telegraph, a witness was left stunned as the Switzerland international reportedly racially abused the member of staff in German after they denied his friend entry to the flight.

Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka

Xhaka has denied all allegations of racism. Image: PA

The Independent are reporting that Xhaka allegedly called the British Airways worker a "Fucking white bitch".

Airport security and police were quickly called and the former Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder was then taken to a west London police station for questioning. Xhaka is denying all allegations of racial abuse and also disputes what he is accused of saying to the staff member at Heathrow.

The Metropolitan Police issued the following statement:

"Police were called at 19:29hrs on Monday, 23 January following an allegation that a member of staff had been racially abused at Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five.

"The allegation was made by a third party. Officers attended and spoke with a man in his 20s. He was not arrested. He voluntarily attended a west London police station where he was interviewed under caution.

"Enquiries continue."

Arsenal have refused to comment on the situation, citing it as both a private and police matter.

Given Arsene Wenger's reaction to the ill discipline that led to Xhaka's dismissal against Burnley on Sunday, his mood with his £32.5m Summer signing is unlikely to have been improved after hearing about this latest controversy.

(H/T The Telegraph)

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, Granit Xhaka, Arsenal