Cumbria Police launch racism probe involving Carlisle supporters and two Everton stars

CARLISLE UNITED and Cumbria Police have started a probe into alleged racist abuse after Everton duo Arouna Kone and Steven Pienaar were targeted by home supporters during the Premier League side's FA Cup Fourth Round win.

 

Police are investigating an alleged racist incident at Brunton Park

 

Everton's players made referee Lee Mason aware of the incident which followed Kone's opening goal after just 92 seconds of yesterday's comfortable 3-0 win over the League Two team.

The unsavoury incident deflected attention from the Carlisle's sterling efforts in staging the Fourth Round tie less than two months after the ground was underneath 10ft of water following Storm Desmond.

Manager Keith Curle asked supporters to identify the bigots, saying: "It is not what we want inside Brunton Park, not what we want inside football, not what we want in society.

 

"The club will make all the efforts to identify the people. I didn't hear it, but what I would say is that any supporters who were next to these people please step forward and identify them because it is not acceptable."

A warning that supporters guilty of abuse would be ejected from Brunton Park was made over Tannoy after Mason first spoke to Curle, Everton manager Roberto Martinez and the fourth official. The investigation will continue on Monday.

"When we scored the goal, Arouna Kone and Steven Pienaar were celebrating," said Martinez, who saw efforts from Aaron Lennon and Ross Barkley seal a comfortable victory.

"A very, very small minority in the back of the stand behind the goal made some racial remarks. As you know, there is no sort of room for that type of behaviour.

 

"But I must stress it was a very small minority. I want to believe that it was just an emotional reaction to the disappointment of conceding a goal. It was handled very well by Lee Mason."

Superintendent Justin Bibby of Cumbria Constabulary said: "Hate crime will not be tolerated in this county and any allegation will be fully investigated.

"We ask that anyone with information makes contact with police."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and ask to speak to an officer from Durranhill Police Station or alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.