Everton fans on counter charge as Emre awaits racism
verdict
Dominic Fifield
Saturday January 6, 2007
The Guardian
The fallout from last weekend's tempestuous game between Everton
and Newcastle took another twist last night when it emerged that
away supporters have complained to the Football Association that
their striker Obafemi Martins was subjected to racial abuse by home
fans.
The FA is investigating claims, mentioned in the referee Dermot
Gallagher's match report, that the Newcastle midfielder Emre
Belozoglu racially abused the Everton goalkeeper, Tim Howard, and
the centre-half Joleon Lescott. Contrary to suggestions from the
Newcastle manager, Glenn Roeder, last night, that investigation is
ongoing with the players asked to respond to Soho Square by next
Tuesday.
Article continues
However, the FA is also obliged to scrutinise the allegations made
by the away fans and has written to Everton asking for their
observations. The governing body is also deeply unimpressed with
Roeder's assessment that the Emre issue is now "a closed matter".
"We have asked Everton and the players involved for a statement on
the incident and we will look at that before deciding whether or
not the matter is closed," said a spokesman.
Lescott and Howard, along with the defender Joseph Yobo, reacted
furiously to comments allegedly made by Emre following the award of
a penalty to Newcastle some three minutes before half-time during
the hosts' 3-0 win last Saturday. The Turkey international tried to
apologise to the trio only to be knocked back by Lescott and
Howard. It is unclear at which point Martins, who missed the
resultant penalty, was subjected to the alleged racist abuse from
the home supporters.
Emre's agent has since denied that his client used racist language
and Roeder stressed yesterday that the matter was no longer an
issue. "There is no charge to be answered," he said. "Everton are
comfortable with that as well. It is a closed matter as far as I am
concerned. It has really bothered Emre, as you can imagine. We have
black players in the team and in the squad and we are all together,
we are all the same, and I would not tolerate anyone that showed
any sign of any racism."
