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West Ham United player Demba Ba 'racially abused' | West Ham United player Demba Ba 'racially abused' |
(40 minutes later) | |
West Ham has said one of its players was racially abused at an end-of-season dinner during which trouble flared. | |
BBC football correspondent Dan Roan said forward Demba Ba was the target of the abuse during Monday's gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. | BBC football correspondent Dan Roan said forward Demba Ba was the target of the abuse during Monday's gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. |
Trouble is thought to have broken out at the £275-a-head event in Park Lane when a player refused to sign an autograph for a supporter. | Trouble is thought to have broken out at the £275-a-head event in Park Lane when a player refused to sign an autograph for a supporter. |
The Metropolitan Police said no arrests were made. | The Metropolitan Police said no arrests were made. |
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said the incident centred on a drunken fan racially abusing a player. | West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said the incident centred on a drunken fan racially abusing a player. |
Mr Sullivan told Sky Sports News: "It was one individual who had too much to drink, sadly a problem in British society. | Mr Sullivan told Sky Sports News: "It was one individual who had too much to drink, sadly a problem in British society. |
"A player was racially abused by the same drunken supporter, which is not acceptable. | "A player was racially abused by the same drunken supporter, which is not acceptable. |
"Sadly one drunken supporter let the club down." | "Sadly one drunken supporter let the club down." |
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We were called at 2115 BST to reports of a disturbance at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We were called at 2115 BST to reports of a disturbance at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. |
"Officers attended. There were no offences alleged and no arrests." | "Officers attended. There were no offences alleged and no arrests." |
West Ham's relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Sunday, the day before the dinner, with a 3-2 defeat away to fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic - Ba scoring both goals for the Hammers. | West Ham's relegation to the Championship was confirmed on Sunday, the day before the dinner, with a 3-2 defeat away to fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic - Ba scoring both goals for the Hammers. |
Just over an hour after the match, the club's owners confirmed they had parted company with manager Avram Grant. | Just over an hour after the match, the club's owners confirmed they had parted company with manager Avram Grant. |