Linfield Football Club has launched an investigation after allegations of racist abuse being directed towards a Glentoran player during the teams’ encounter on Friday night.
The South Belfast club said it ejected an individual from Windsor Park after the incident, in which it was alleged racist abuse was directed towards Glentoran player Fuad Sule.
The player took to social media after the game, which saw his side emerge 3-1 victors, to allege that he had received the abuse, including “monkey sounds” as he walked off the pitch.
“I’m a big ambassador of kicking racism not only out of football but out of life in general. It’s embarrassing that it still happens today, a good game with an electric atmosphere has turned sour,” Mr Sule said on X.
“There’s a lot of good , honest people that I know very well at Linfield with integrity and class but one individual has tarnished the whole Linfield Football Club’s name for me.”
Linfield has said it will deal with the issue “with the utmost seriousness”.
A club statement said: “Linfield Football Club is aware of an incident which occurred at the end of last night’s match with Glentoran in which an individual was alleged to have racially abused an opposition player. An individual was removed from the ground last night and the club will investigate further.
“Linfield Football Club is opposed to all forms of racism and we will treat the matter with the utmost seriousness.”
Glentoran said it was “deeply concerned” by the incident and called for the “strongest possible punishment” for anyone found guilty of racist abuse.
“Glentoran Football Club strongly condemns racism and all forms of discrimination. We are deeply concerned by the alleged racial abuse directed at our player Fuad Sule during last night’s match against Linfield at the National Stadium,” a club statement said.
“We appreciate the prompt and strong statement from Linfield Football Club and will work closely with them as they conduct their investigation, assisting in any way necessary to ensure that the individual responsible is held to account.”
