A Manchester City football fan arrested over allegations of racist abuse against Manchester United players during Saturday’s derby match has been released on bail.
Anthony Burke, a former British Army officer, has given an explanation after a video of him making ”monkey gestures and sounds” towards United player, Fred in Saturday night’s derby clash with Man City, circulated on social media.
Fred, one of the best players during the game was constantly booed by City fans whenever he held the ball and was thrown objects when he went to the corner kick area of the stadium to take a corner kick.
41 year old Burke, arrested on Sunday by Greater Manchester police and was held on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order, but Burke has said that he isn’t racist.
Taking to his Facebook page, he wrote: “Listen, I’m only racist c*** because I had a screen shot that made me look it.
However I ain’t racist, watch the match half of it was me with me putting my hands in my pants.
“Bullsh** not ar*** I know the true and I’ve already made appointment to speak to the police which I did so think what you like.
The company Burke now works with, Kier Group, confirmed on Twitter that they had suspended him pending an investigation while his ex-wife says she has received death threats since the incident happened.
The company posted: “Kier has a zero tolerance policy towards any racist and discriminatory behaviour. We can confirm an employee has been suspended pending an investigation.”
His wife, Amy, told the Daily Mail the “He is with the police – he has been arrested.
“He was arrested this morning. He doesn’t live with me. It’s horrible – I have had death threats and my kids.
I have been in tears. I am really surprised – this is not like him – his family are black. I keep watching the footage back and I can’t say whether he’s done it or not. Has he done it or hasn’t he done it?
“I just can’t say and I haven’t spoken to him. It’s amazing how you can get famous for the wrong thing.”
After the incident, Fred told ESPN Brazil: “Unfortunately, we are still in a backward society. [It is a shame] we still have to live with that in 2019. On the field, I didn’t see anything. I saw it only in the locker room afterwards.
“The guys showed me… I try not to care about that. I try to look ahead. Unfortunately, this is happening in some stadiums. It happened here, it happened in Ukraine with some friends. It’s sad, but we have to keep our heads up and forget about that.
“We can’t give them any attention because that’s all they want. I spoke to the referee after the match, they will do something about it and that’s all. We are all the same regardless of skin colour, hair and gender.
“We came from the same place and we all go to the same place when it’s all said and done. Thank God I have a lot of friends here in the locker room who hugged me, like Lingard. I don’t want to think about it. I just want to move on.”
Meanwhile Man City FC released a statement after the derby, vowing to ban any supporter found guilty of racist abuse for life.
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