News
Former Nigerian, Premier League Stars Call For Gallagher’s Investigation Over Alleged Racism
- Former Nigerian, Premier League players urge the English FA to investigate racism claims against Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.
- Gallagher allegedly ignored a young black boy’s high-five gesture in the tunnel, prompting calls for an apology and FA action.
- Chelsea defends Gallagher, citing the incident as taken out of context amidst social media backlash.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigerian retired players with English Premier League experience have urged the English FA to investigate racism claims against Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, after the midfielder allegedly ignored a young black boy in the tunnel before their EPL match against Burnley at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
Editor’s Pick
- Wheelchair Saga: KFC, Debola Daniel, And The Power Of Social Media In Customer Advocacy
- Police Intensify Crackdown On Motorcycles Plying Restricted Areas In Lagos
- Lawmaker, Lawyers Lock Horns Over Human Rights Reforms
Ten-man Burnley came twice from behind to grab a 2-2 draw against the Blues but the frustrating draw was made worse by the videos of the tunnel incident after the game.
In the video, Gallagher is seen in the tunnel lineup, where a young black boy extends his hand for a high five but Gallagher ignored the gesture, opting to tap the boy’s shoulders instead before turning his attention to a white boy behind him.
Former Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udeze, who played for West Bromwich Albion in 2003, said the best thing Gallagher could do was tender a public apology to the young boy.
Conor Gallagher in action against Burnley last Saturday
“It’s a clear case of racism and I think Gallagher needs to openly apologise to the young boy and maybe at Chelsea’s next game, bring the boy to the pitch, after the game, give him a jersey, take him to the dressing room to meet the other player and make him happy. There is no room for racism in football, so we are waiting to see what the FA would do about it,” Udeze told PUNCH Sports Extra.
Sam Sodje, who played for Reading in the Premier League urged the FA to get to the root of the matter.
“I don’t really know the full story, there might be more to the video but with the attention that it’s getting, it’s something that you have to look into. Racism is not something anyone would tolerate, I’ve been in that situation before, it’s a bad thing, but it’s always good to have facts, and I think the FA should do something about it and kick it out,” Sodje told our correspondent.
English FA Cup winner with Everton in 1995, Daniel Amokachi, as well as fans, also condemned the act.
English Premier League Logo
“It’s a shame, waiting for action from the Premier League,” Amokachi wrote under an Instagram post.
“This is so heartbreaking, why would Conor Gallagher be such a racist?” a fan, Kuula Ronald, queried.
Another fan, Omon Dike, wrote on X, “Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is a racist. He shook the white boy’s hands and even hugged him but gave the black one a wide berth.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea on Monday released a statement in defence of Gallagher.
“Chelsea Football Club is aware of a video clip circulating on social media from Saturday’s fixture against Burnley, which has been taken considerably out of context,” an official statement from the club read.
Further Reading
- Joshua Plans September Comeback
- Moffi, Simon Nominated For Marc-Vivien Foe Award
- Simona Halep Receives Wildcard For Madrid Open
“The subsequent level of abuse and defamatory comments directed towards Conor Gallagher is completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome.”
Click here to watch our video of the week
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
