English FA investigate Yorke’s complaints

LONDON: The English Football Association opened an investigation yesterday into racist abuse of Birmingham City striker Dwight Yorke by fans of his former club Blackburn. The incidents, in Sunday’s Premier League match at Ewood Park, came four days after England’s black players were subjected to monkey chants in Madrid, Spain. Yorke, a former Trinidad and Tobago international who joined City from Blackburn, was targetted as he warmed up on the sideline before going on the field as a substitute.

Yorke jumped over the advertising boards and leaned into the stands to confront a fan who made monkey gestures toward him. After returning to the sideline, Yorke turned around and went back to argue with the man again. Two other fans approached Yorke to before security guards escorted the player away. A fan, whose name was not immediately released, was ejected from the ground. “Dwight is bitterly upset and angry,” Birmingham manager Bruce said after the 3-3 tie. “It was something similar to the racist taunts the English players had and we just don’t want to see it.” The incident is a major embarrassment to English football.