UK cops investigate after Steven Pienaar faces racial slurs
Carlisle fans hurled racist slurs at Steven Pienaar & Arouna Koné during an FA Cup match.
JOHANNESBURG - English police are looking into claims former Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar and his Everton team-mate Arouna Koné were racially abused during an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Carlisle on Sunday.
Pienaar, Koné and several other Everton players were celebrating their team's opening goal near the Carlisle fans' section when spectators allegedly shouted out racial slurs.
In video footage of the goal celebration, Pienaar can be seen gesturing towards the Carlisle fans.
. @OfficielArounaK puts @Everton ahead early! https://t.co/7AWUoKXw2s #EmiratesFACup
- BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) January 31, 2016
The players then alerted referee Lee Mason, who in turn spoke to the fourth official.
A stadium announcement was then made condemning acts of racism.
A police official quoted by The Guardian said: "Nothing has been witnessed by police or stewards but we are investigating a report and will be working with the club to ascertain what happened. I have urged [the] person that tweeted the report to contact us."
Both football club managers have condemned the action.
