A Chelsea football fan has told of his shame after firing a volley of foul-mouthed abuse at Manchester City player Raheem Sterling.
60-year-old Colin Wing says he called the player a ‘Manc c***’ and denies using racist language.
He also claimed he has lost his job over the incident, although it has not been made clear what he did for a living.
Mr Wing was seen hurling abuse along with a group of fans as the England forward went to collect the ball.
The player claimed he heard racist abuse coming from the stands.
Mr Wing said: “I am deeply ashamed by my own behaviour and I feel really bad.”
He said he had been going to watch Chelsea play for 50 years.
“Nobody around me said they heard anything. I want to apologise unreservedly to Raheem and hope he can be a better man than I am by accepting it.
“Even if it wasn’t racist, it’s not right what I said.
“I was completely out of order but I’ve lost my job and my season ticket so now everybody’s got what they wanted. So why can’t they leave me alone?”
Mr Wing said police had spoken with him twice on Saturday without levelling any charges.
Chelsea are continuing to collect and sift through evidence, including audio and video footage, while lip-readers are being employed to determine exactly what was said.
Mr Wing is one of four people suspended from attending Chelsea matches pending further investigations into the behaviour of supporters, according to the club.
Manchester City welcomed the club’s decision to issue suspensions to those pictured verbally abusing Sterling during the match.
A police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a video circulating online in which it is claimed racial abuse was allegedly directed at a player. We continue to review the footage and CCTV to determine whether any offences have been committed. There have been no arrests and our enquiries continue.”
A Premier League spokesperson said: “The club and police are rightly investigating this serious matter. The Premier League and the clubs are opposed to all forms of discrimination in football and if anyone is found to have racially abused a Premier League player they deserve to be punished.
“We will support any action taken by the club or the authorities.”
