A RACIST attack on Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell was last night being investigated by police after he was targeted online.
The striker was abused by a football fan after posting a comment on social networking site Twitter.
An Irish-based member of the site, using the name TheReid1, posted a racist slur in response to the player’s tweet about the Republic of Ireland’s clash with Estonia on Friday.
Fraizer Campbell reposted the comment and added: “Wow just seen this tweet! Disgraceful,” and a link to a poster promoting the Kick Racism out of Football campaign.
TheReid1 later posted an apology and claimed the comment had been “just a joke”, but a Sunderland AFC spokeswoman yesterday confirmed that the club was treating the matter seriously.
She said: “The club has a zero tolerance approach to any form of abuse. The matter has been handed over to the police and will be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
A spokesman for Northumbria Police confirmed an investigation was under way, saying: “Police are aware of this matter and inquiries are being made.”
Campbell is the second North East player to be racially abused on Twitter in recent days. Two teenagers were arrested last week over allegations of abuse aimed at Newcastle United’s teenage striker Sammy Ameobi.
Sammy’s sister Titi, 26, said her brother had been saddened by the message. “There’s totally no place for that in the society we live in today,” she said.
“There’s always one who won’t abide by the same rules as everybody else. Nobody should have to put up with it.
“Colour is only skin deep, we’re all the same underneath. When you’re in the public eye you’re an easy target, but it’s not acceptable.”
