Man arrested over alleged racial abuse of former Newcastle Utd striker Demba Ba

2:31pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News

INTERNET ABUSE: Demba Ba INTERNET ABUSE: Demba Ba

A MAN has been arrested over the alleged racially abuse of former Newcastle striker Demba Ba on Facebook.

Senegalese star Ba, who joined Chelsea this month, was subjected to abuse about his religion.

The post was made on a football forum on the social networking site, called 'North East Banter Page For The Top Three Big Clubs' and it is understood the comment, which included swear words allegedly aimed at Ba, a devout Muslim, has since been removed.

A 39-year-old man from Gateshead has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Anti-racism campaigners have condemned the comment, which was posted after it was confirmed Ba was leaving Newcastle United.

Paul Kearns, deputy chief executive of Show Racism the Red Card, said it was completely unacceptable.

He said: "Social networking sites have seen a proliferation of racist comments over the last year or two, with both Shola Ameobi and Fraizer Campbell receiving appalling abuse on Twitter recently.

"Police action was taken in both of those cases and we hope it will be taken seriously this time in order to stamp out this discrimination."

Ba is expected to return to St James' Park this weekend with his Chelsea team mates when the two sides face each other for the first time since he switched sides.

Comments (3)

3:08pm Wed 30 Jan 13

behonest says...

'racially aggravated harassment'? 'discrimination'?

Was this not just a race-based insulting comment posted on a social networking site?

So why the sensationalist terms for just a bit of insulting banter? This government seems to be increasingly sending the police out to lift people out of their homes just for making nasty comments. I'll bet Ba Ba black player didn't even see them.

Does that last comment constitute 'racially aggravated harassment'?
'racially aggravated harassment'? 'discrimination'? Was this not just a race-based insulting comment posted on a social networking site? So why the sensationalist terms for just a bit of insulting banter? This government seems to be increasingly sending the police out to lift people out of their homes just for making nasty comments. I'll bet Ba Ba black player didn't even see them. Does that last comment constitute 'racially aggravated harassment'? behonest

3:46pm Wed 30 Jan 13

jabdc5, the land that's still trying to recover from the last tory government. says...

the story says "racial abuse" then says "abuse about his religion". So which is it? Do we have laws against religious abuse?
the story says "racial abuse" then says "abuse about his religion". So which is it? Do we have laws against religious abuse? jabdc5, the land that's still trying to recover from the last tory government.

4:41pm Wed 30 Jan 13

the-big-yin says...

jabdc5, the land that's still trying to recover from the last tory government. wrote:
the story says "racial abuse" then says "abuse about his religion". So which is it? Do we have laws against religious abuse?
I feel abused every time i see a Muslim footballer bending down and praying to "ALLAH " on the center spot before a match. This should be banned., or because we are Christian supporters, are we not allowed to complain about this as it may be classed as a racial / religious attack on them?
The f.a. should stamp down on this, as it offends me every time i see it being done.
[quote][p][bold]jabdc5, the land that's still trying to recover from the last tory government.[/bold] wrote: the story says "racial abuse" then says "abuse about his religion". So which is it? Do we have laws against religious abuse?[/p][/quote]I feel abused every time i see a Muslim footballer bending down and praying to "ALLAH " on the center spot before a match. This should be banned., or because we are Christian supporters, are we not allowed to complain about this as it may be classed as a racial / religious attack on them? The f.a. should stamp down on this, as it offends me every time i see it being done. the-big-yin

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