Chelsea fans condemned for Mohamed Salah 'terrorist' chant
Liverpool and Chelsea have issued statements to denounce the disturbing racist bigotry aimed at the Egyptian player and vow to work together to take action.
A group of Chelsea fans were barred fromthis evening's Europa League tie against Slavia Prague after being identified in a video, singing a racist chant aimed at Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, in a bar in the Czech Republic capital. The video shows three Chelsea supporters chanting, "Salah is a bomber" hours before tonight's match at Sinobo Stadium.
The incident has been condemned by both Liverpool and Chelsea, with both clubs quick to issue statements.
Liverpool's statement
The video circulating online, showing vile discriminatory chants being aimed at one of our players, is dangerous and disturbing.
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.
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's statement
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.
Such individuals are an embarrassment to the vast majority of Chelsea supporters who won’t tolerate them in their club.
League game at Anfield
By sheer coincidence, Liverpool and Chelsea are due to play out their Week 34 Premier League meeting at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.