Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger reported alleged racist abuse from Tottenham fans in Sunday’s Premier League match, resulting in a stadium announcement saying “racist behaviour among spectators is interfering with the game”.
The announcement over speakers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium also said: “Please remember that racism has no place in football.”
Match referee Anthony Taylor implemented the first step of FIFA’s protocol dealing with discrimination in games.
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Rudiger was seen around the 63rd minute indicating he had faced racist abuse, imitating a monkey gesture.
Chelsea won the game 2-0 with Willian scoring both goals, with Spurs having had Heung-Min Son sent off in the second half for violent conduct.
Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard confirmed that both Cesar Azpilicueta and Rudiger went to speak to match officials about the incident after the final whistle.
Chelsea captain Azpilicueta explained after the game how he reported the abuse directed at Rudiger to the match referee.
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“You know it is very clear every time we have meetings with the Premier League and the referees. Before the game, we have been told to report if any incidents of racism happen straight away to the referee,” he told Sky Sports.
“Antonio came to me and told me that he had listened to racist songs towards him so I just reported it to the referee immediately.
“I left it to the ref to do his job. We are very concerned and aware of this behaviour, altogether we have to stop it.
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“(I don’t know if other players heard) because we went straight to play and then the incident with Son and his red card was towards this area, where it happened.
“I hope everything becomes clear and we eradicate it as soon as possible. It’s an issue in not only football but life – we need to work together towards eradication.”
Spurs boss Mourinho expressed little knowledge of the racism incident, and insisted referee Anthony Taylor and his colleagues followed the set protocol for such situations.
“I saw nothing,” he said. “I saw the referee following the protocol, I saw the referee speaking with (fourth official Andre) Marriner, I saw the referee coming to me and to Lampard and tell us what was going on, and the protocol was followed.
“Every club is together on this situation and of course we are disappointed.”
Spurs officials said they are now conducting an investigation into the incident which will involve speaking with Chelsea players.
“Any form of racism is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our stadium,” Spurs said in a statement.
“We take any such allegations extremely seriously and shall take the strongest possible action against any individual found to be behaving in such a way, including stadium bans.”
This article originally appeared on Sky Sports and was republished with permission.
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