Arsenal reports allegation of racism during EPL match

AP , Sunday 19 Dec 2021

Arsenal reported an allegation of racial abuse toward one of its players during the English Premier League game against Leeds on Saturday, manager Mikel Arteta said.

Arteta
Arsenal s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (C) celebrates as Arsenal s Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli (not pictured) scores his team s second goal as Leeds United s Argentinian head coach Marcelo Bielsa (R) looks on during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 18, 2021.AFP

The alleged incident took place in the 33rd minute of the game at Elland Road.

``It was reported and the stadium manager will have to deal with that with the authorities,'' Arteta said after Arsenal's 4-1 win.

Arteta said it was a ``single person'' who aimed the alleged abuse apparently toward one of Arsenal's substitutes.

``Very disappointed because we have done so much in football to try to avoid it,'' he said, ``but it is a single person. I don't think that merits that a full stadium pays the price.

``It was a single incident and it has to be reported. It was reported and now the authorities will have to work with the clubs to understand what happened.''

Arsenal's
Arsenal s Martin Odegaard, center right, challenges Leeds United s Tyler Roberts during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road in Leeds, England, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. AP

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