Championship - Palace fury at Cardiff race claim

Eurosport - Mon, 19 Oct 11:32:00 2009

Crystal Palace have branded allegations that one their players racially abused Cardiff's Michael Chopra "outrageous".

Crystal Palace Selhurst Park - 0

The Football Association are set to examine an incident at the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw between the sides, after which Jay Bothroyd claimed his fellow Bluebirds striker Chopra, who is of Indian descent, was the subject of a racial slur from a Palace player.

But Palace have strongly denied the allegations, and a club statement read: "Crystal Palace FC would welcome any FA inquiry into racist comments allegedly made by one of our players at Saturday's match at Cardiff City. Crystal Palace is a multi-ethnic club and is proud of its history in this respect."

The statement continued: "We take great exception at the outrageous allegations being levied at us by Cardiff City players and management.

"We would like to make it known we are 100 per cent supportive in this matter of all of our players and definitive in our belief none of them would make any racist comments.

"As a club we are fully behind the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign, as are all of our players."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 8 of 8

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  1. I think its true to say that Cardiff City made no­ comment themselves about the incident until challeged­ in a press conference, so Palace have jumped the gun.­ Its amazing that suddenly the fact that Chopra is the­ leading goal-scorrer in the country and everyone­ outside of Cardiff hates him, but any other club would­ love to have him leading their line. There is tension­ between the two clubs following their game last season­ when City's Roger Johnson was hospitalised by a­ palace player. So why would Chopra make such a thing up­ and why should Palace suddenly need to put a statement­ out, is it a smoke-scene to try to protect its­ player!!!!

    From garethwilliams143, on Tue 20 Oct 1:00PM

  2. this is absolute nonsense and my guess is that michael­ copra has misheard something else that might have been­ said, i dont believe for one minute that a palace­ player would make such a jibe considering how many­ black players play for palace

    From CHILL its just my opinion, on Tue 20 Oct 9:50AM

  3. stop telling lies chopra, nobody believes it.

    From CHILL its just my opinion, on Mon 19 Oct 7:07PM

  4. The facts seem a little confused Michael Chopra is­ supposed to have made accusations but the Cardiff­ manager and owner say that nothing has been said by­ them or any other Cardiff staff member how then I ask­ did make its way into the media surely not through a ­ Palace player . The whole thing must be cleared up and­ if there has been a racist remark the truth must be­ brought into the open. Bear in mind that the Palace­ have several different nationalities represented in­ their ranks and have little to gain on the racist­ front.

    From joyce2clever, on Mon 19 Oct 4:14PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Would you like to make friends with people from other­ country or place?
    Log on--------- T ALL Cha t ---C o m­ ----
    Then you can get help and suggestions from all­ over the world.
    While you may find your true love or­ friendship there.

    From janetkor34, on Mon 19 Oct 4:08PM

  6. Cardiff will not pursue the issue as the ref did not­ hear the comments , without that it will be a pointless­ exercise. The FA might interview players though and­ make thier own minds up. As for Palace comments ,its­ impossible for any club to say thier players­ deliberately don't make racial comments, anything­ can be said by anybody in the heat of the moment.­ Warnock diliberatly courts controversy..he is a­ disgrace and has made Palace a laughing stock.

    I seem­ to remember last season when Warnock and thier Chairman­ said Claude Davis assault on Roger Johnson was an­ "accident" no Palace player will assault­ anyone.....mmm what happen 3 match ban by the FA. for­ assault...maybe the same will happen with the Palace­ captain..

    From andrew, on Mon 19 Oct 4:02PM

  7. Were they ever going to say anything else?

    From Paul C, on Mon 19 Oct 2:52PM

  8. Nice sentiments.......but I don't think Chopra­ would accuse somebody if it wasn't true.
    He would­ have nothing to gain from the accusation
    You only have­ to look at the way he reacted to see that !!
    I'm a­ Coventry City supporter by the way.

    From clone2, on Mon 19 Oct 1:28PM
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