After Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspurs’ South Korean international forward, was allegedly subjected to racial abuse, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace both released statements. A video that purports to show a fan making a racist gesture at Son while seated at the Palace end of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has gone viral on social media. When the alleged abuse occurred, the Spurs forward passed by the opposing end.
“We are aware of an allegation of racial abuse towards Heung-Min Son during yesterday’s match,” Spurs said in a statement. “Discrimination of any kind is abhorrent and has no place in society, our game and at our Club.
“We are working with Met Police and Crystal Palace to investigate and identify the individual involved. We will do everything in our powers to ensure that if found guilty, the individual will receive the strongest possible action – as was the case earlier this season when Son suffered similar racial abuse at Chelsea..”
Heung-Min Son had previously faced racial abuse at Chelsea
Following the allegations, Crystal Palace has released a statement of their own regarding a person on the Eagles’ end. “We are aware of a video circulating online (as well as reports made directly to us) regarding an individual in the away end at Spurs yesterday, appearing to make racist gestures towards Heung-Min Son,” it reads. “Evidence has been shared with the police, and when he is identified, he will face a club ban. We will not tolerate such behaviour in our Club.”
The former Bayer Leverkusen great played eighty-nine minutes of the London derby. Harry Kane scored the game-winning goal for Spurs in the first half as they prevailed 1-0.
In response to accusations that Son had been harassed on social media during a Premier League match against Chelsea, Spurs had already released a stern statement in February. Separately, a supporter who made a discriminatory gesture during a preseason match between the two teams was fined and suspended.
“We have been made aware of the utterly reprehensible online racist abuse directed at Heung-Min Son during today’s match, which has been reported by the Club,” the February statement read. “We stand with Sonny and once again call on the social media companies and authorities to take action.”
