Crystal Palace pledge to ban fan after Spurs’ Son allegedly racially abused

Crystal Palace have said they will ban an individual who allegedly racially abused Tottenham’s Son Heung-min during their side’s 1-0 defeat on Saturday. Tottenham had earlier announced they had launched an investigation after footage circulated on social media of a man in the away end at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seemingly making a racist gesture towards their player.

The alleged incident occurred in the 89th minute of Spurs’ 1-0 win when Son, the South Korea captain, was replaced by substitute Arnaut Danjuma but had to walk around the outside of the pitch and past the Palace travelling support.

Crystal Palace said in a statement: “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.”

That statement came shortly after one issued by Tottenham, which read: “We are aware of an allegation of racial abuse during yesterday’s match. Discrimination of any kind is abhorrent and has no place in society, our game and at our club. 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.”

Kick It Out also released a statement to condemn the behaviour, with Troy Townsend, its head of player engagement, saying: “Kick It Out are appalled to hear that Heung-Min Son was subject to alleged