Arsenal Midfielder In Racism Storm
By Damian Smith
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is being questioned by police in London for allegedly calling an airline worker a f**king white b**ch.
When Granit Xhaka went to Heathrow airport to see off a friend, few could have predicted the trio would end at a west London police station.
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As first reported
the 24 year old and his friend, German sixth division footballer Leonard Lekaj arrived late so Lekaj was denied permission to board his flight and things just escalated from there.
Xhaka became increasingly frustrated with the staff and it is then claimed he racially abused a member of staff by saying f****** white b**** in German, at which point airport security and police were called.
The authorities were called by a third-party who also travelled to the station to give a statement. Xhaka denies using any racial slurs in the incident, Arsenal have declined to comment, calling the incident a “private and police matter.
It is still unclear whether he volunteered to accompany police to the station or was not given a choice but this will certainly leave a dark cloud over the Swiss star and completed a miserable weekend for the midfielder.
Discipline a key issue
Granit Xhaka is constantly giving manager Arsene Wenger pains over his lack of discipline. The player is likely to serve a lengthy ban for his reckless challenge on Burnley’s Steven Defour.
Arsenal were 1-0 up, he had been controlling the midfield reasonably well and his team are currently short of players that can dictate a game from the middle.
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Yet having misplaced a pass, he was unable to stop himself lunching two-footed. The contact might not have been as bad as it could have been, but referee Jon Moss was spot on to brandish a red card
It’s not the first time Xhaka’s poor judgement has cost his manager and team mates. This is the ninth red card of the young mans playing career and his second of the season.
The first was against Swansea and is another example of recklessness and on that occasion Arsene Wenger was forgiving, saying. “Intelligence means you don’t make the same mistake twice,”
This time the French coach may have more to say, especially following the Heathrow incident. Although Wenger may have his own ruble’s to worry about.
Wenger was charged with misconduct for his act of ill-discipline, which could see him banned from the touch-line, or even the stadium, for the games against Southampton, Watford and Chelsea. He has until 6pm on Thursday to respond.
A Football Association statement read: “It is alleged that in or around the 92nd minute, he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth official.”
Whatever the outcome of Xhaka’s investigation, it is clear Arsenal need to address many discipline issues within the club.