Cardiff City have confirmed they are working with South Wales Police following the emergence of a 'stomach-churning' video allegedly showing a fan racially abusing Swansea City's Michael Obafemi.
The video, which was widely circulated on social media on Thursday night, appears to show a Cardiff fan using racist language when discussing the striker during the recent South Wales derby defeat at home to Swansea City on April 2. The Swans recorded a 4-0 win over their rivals to secure an unprecedented derby double, with Obafemi netting a brace.
In a statement responding to the incident, a Cardiff spokesperson said: " Cardiff City have spoken at length with Kick It Out on the matter, have passed evidence on to South Wales Police and will fully support their investigations. The club is disgusted by the deplorable, stomach-churning language and stands by football's commitment to stamping out such abhorrent behaviour. There is no place for it in our sport or society."
The club have since highlighted the incident to South Wales Police, who have confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have yet been made.
In a statement, the force said: "South Wales Police is aware of footage circulating on social media from Cardiff City’s home fixture against Swansea City at The Cardiff City Stadium on April 2. Enquiries are on-going. Anyone with information, or the individual himself, is urged to contact South Wales Police quoting occurrence *140557."
Cardiff boss Steve Morison further underlined City's condemnation of the incident in his Friday morning press conference ahead of the clash with Birmingham City this weekend. "I haven’t seen the video personally, but I’ve been told about it," he said.
"I’m not on the social media stratosphere so I didn’t see it. But if it is a Cardiff fan, then he shouldn’t be doing that. No one should be doing anything like that. I echo the club’s statement on it. We’re trying to rid it from society, not just football. but it sometimes rears its ugly head and it’s not nice.
"We need to eradicate it from society as soon as possible. It’s frustrating when we have to keep talking about these things. But when it’s out there in the public domain, it’s something we have to do. It’s an absolute disgrace and something we don’t want to be associated with at this football club. Football’s for everybody. We’re as one within the club."
In a statement, a Swansea City spokesperson added: "Swansea City Football Club is aware of a video circulating on social media from the fixture against Cardiff City on April 2. We wholly condemn the abhorrent language used and we are actively working with South Wales Police and Cardiff City with their enquiries.
"There is no place for such behaviour in society, let alone football, and as a club we will unequivocally support our players and staff to help eradicate all forms of discrimination from the game."
