Crystal Palace Vows to Ban Fan Over Alleged Racist Abuse Aimed at Son Heung-min

A video which 360hubs had chosen not to publish has been circulating on social media showing a man in the away section of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium reportedly making a racist gesture towards Son.

Following the alleged racial abuse directed towards Tottenham's forward Son Heung-min during Saturday's game, Crystal Palace has assured to impose a ban on the spectator involved.

In the 89th minute of Spurs' 1-0 victory, an event took place that required South Korea captain Son to be substituted with Arnaut Danjuma. However, as Son left the field, he had to pass by the Palace travelling supporters by walking around the outside of the pitch.

We are aware of a video circulating online (as well as reports made directly to us) regarding an individual in the away end at Spurs yesterday, appearing to make racist gestures towards Heung-Min Son. Evidence has been shared with the police, and when he is identified, he will…

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 7, 2023

 A Palace statement said: “We are aware of a video circulating online (as well as reports made directly to us) regarding an individual in the away end at Spurs yesterday, appearing to make racist gestures towards Heung-min Son.

“Evidence has been shared with the police, and when he is identified, he will face a club ban. We will not tolerate such behaviour in our club.”

A Tottenham statement read: “We are aware of an allegation of racial abuse towards Heung-min Son during yesterday’s match.

“Discrimination of any kind is abhorrent and has no place in society, our game and at our club.

Club Statement - Heung-Min Son

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 7, 2023

 “We are working with Met Police and Crystal Palace to investigate and identify the individual involved.

“We will do everything in our powers to ensure that if found guilty, the individual will receive the strongest possible action – as was the case earlier this season when Son suffered similar racial abuse at Chelsea.”

Tottenham supporters’ group Spurs REACH, which stands for Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage, wrote on Twitter: “Why oh, who, oh why, do adults in this day and age think that this is an acceptable way to behave towards another human being?

Evidence has been shared with the police, and when he is identified, he will face a club ban. We will not tolerate such behaviour in our club

Crystal Palace statement

“We sincerely hope that Crystal Palace Football Club identify and ban this individual for life!”

Son was also racially abused during a match between Chelsea and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in August.

Chelsea banned a season-ticket holder indefinitely after footage emerged on social media of a fan in the home end making a racist gesture towards Son in the 2-2 draw.

The Crown Prosecution Service in March issued the Chelsea supporter with an order banning him from attending live football matches for three years.