Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea to ban fans for Daniel Sturridge racist abuse
Chelsea have vowed to hand out the toughest punishments for any fans caught making racist chants.[LNB]Sportsmail revealed how Daniel Sturridge was the target of alleged racist abuse from his own club's fans.[LNB]An investigation has been launched at Stamford Bridge following the complaint from a Chelsea executive club member that a fellow wealthy supporter had loudly called Sturridge a 'monkey' during the Champions League game away at Belgian club Genk two weeks ago.[LNB]And the club will consider life bans for any supporters caught making the racists chants.[LNB] Star: Sturridge will make his England debut against Sweden at Wembley[LNB] The inquiry is in addition to Chelsea's joint probe with the police and the Genk football authorities to identify the travelling fans at the same match who were chanting 'Anton Ferdinand, you know what you are'.[LNB]This was in moronic support of the alleged racist foul language from Chelsea captain John Terry, supposedly directed at QPR's Ferdinand, that the Metropolitan Police are investigating.[LNB]Chelsea insist they will take a firm stance, with a statement on Tuesday reading: 'We are investigating several complaints as part of our ongoing investigation into offensive behaviour at the game in Genk.[LNB] Abuse: Daniel Sturridge in action against Genk in Belgium[LNB] [LNB] 'We take all complaints of this nature extremely seriously and are working with supporters and police toidentify those that took part. It can sometimes prove difficult to identify offenders at European away games as there are varying degrees of CCTV and TV footage available to us.[LNB]'However, we will continue to vigorously pursue any evidence of individuals or groups taking part in discriminatory behaviour and take the strongest action against them.[LNB]'Chelsea FC believes such activity shames the club and the game of football and we are fully committed to eradicating such offensive behaviour from the sport.'[LNB] Ongoing: Chelsea captain John Terry (centre) is involved in his own race row[LNB] The Sturridge abuse came from the €100-a-seat section at the top of the main stand reserved for Chelsea's 300-strong group of well-heeled executive club members and Samsung sponsors that included Martin Broughton, chairman of British Airways, and computer multi-millionaire Peter Harrison. [LNB]One of the Chelsea fans sitting in that exclusive area is alleged to have shouted: 'They are bringing on the monkeys' as striker Sturridge, 22, prepared to come on in the secondhalf. [LNB]This so disgusted a Chelsea fan sitting nearby, who regularly travels abroad supporting the club, that he sent an email to chief executive Ron Gourlay protesting about the racist invective aimed at Sturridge from a well-dressed, middle-aged man, who also joined in the unacceptable Ferdinand chants.[LNB] EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea fan's 'racist slur' on Sturridge to be investigated by clubI won't duck my duties, says under fire England captain TerryChelsea and Manchester City eye Valencia midfielder TopalAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinion [LNB]
