9 Jan 2012

Liverpool says sorry to player in race row

11:43 am on 9 January 2012

Besieged English giants Liverpool have apologised to the black footballer who claimed he was racially abused by fans on the Anfield ground's legendary Kop.

Oldham's Tom Adeyemi said he was targeted during the weekend's FA Cup third-round game, which Liverpool won 5-1.

The incident led to a 20-year-old man from the Aintree area of Liverpool being arrested and then bailed on suspicion of a racially-aggravated public order offence.

Liverpool are already on the defensive over their handling of the Luis Suarez affair, with the club reacting furiously after the Uruguay striker was banned for eight games and fined STG40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

Ironically, Liverpool have been drawn to face United in the FA Cup fourth round, a tie which will be overshadowed by the bitter legacy of the Suarez-Evra affair even though the Uruguayan will still be serving his suspension.