Toure vows to combat racism as police probe messages
MANCHESTER City’s Yaya Toure has labelled racist abuse aimed at him on Twitter “a disgrace” and insisted repeated attacks will not dent his resolve to fight discrimination.
The Ivory Coast midfielder said football appeared to attract such behaviour more than other sports, adding that he feared young players could be driven away from social media. Police were yesterday investigating a complaint lodged by equality campaigners Kick It Out after Toure, 31, received several messages of an allegedly racist nature after tweeting on Sunday.
“It’s a disgrace,” he said. “We need to do something to tell people this kind of behaviour has to stop. I want those people to understand what they’re doing is wrong,” he said.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini, meanwhile, says City will delay a decision on whether to extend veteran midfielder Frank Lampard’s successful loan spell beyond January until next month. Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer has hit the ground running in the north-west, having joined on a temporary deal from New York City FC while City’s parent club await the start their first Major League Soccer season.
He is due back in the States early in the New Year but City could take advantage of the two clubs’ alliance to keep Lampard, 36, though Pellegrini insists suggestions of an agreement are premature.
“Frank Lampard is injured so when he recovers we can talk about that issue. I talked about it two months ago. We can see what happens in December. We have until December to decide,” he said.
Lampard’s thigh injury means he is set to miss tonight’s must-win Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow, along with left-back Aleksandar Kolarov and midfielder David Silva, though centre-back Eliaquim Mangala is in contention.
City can ill afford anything less than three points this evening at the Etihad Stadium if they are to progress from Group E, having squandered a two-goal lead to draw in Moscow last month.