The Chelsea fan accused of calling Raheem Sterling a 'black c**t' has apologised to Sterling for abusing him during Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Man City, but says that the abuse was not racist.
The fan was among four supporters banned by Chelsea pending further investigation, but told the Daily Mail that he called Sterling a 'manc c**t', and not a 'black c**t'. Sterling, however, is understood to have told police that he heard racist language.
The fan also apologised to Sterling, and says that he has lost his job over the incident.
I’m deeply ashamed by my own behaviour and I feel really bad. But I didn’t call him a black c***, I called him a Manc c***.
I’ve been going to Chelsea for 50 years now and, because of where I sit, I’m picked up on the camera most weeks. If I had a history of saying this sort of thing I would’ve been caught by now.
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.
I offer him an unreserved apology. Even if it wasn’t racist, it’s not right what I said. Even the swearing is bad – but I got carried away.
I was completely out of order, but I’ve lost my job and my season ticket now so everybody’s got what they wanted. So why can’t they leave me alone?’
The police continue to investigate the incident.
