Chelsea Football Club has issued a statement in defense of midfielder Conor Gallagher after he was subjected to severe online abuse. The controversy arose from a video clip that went viral, showing Gallagher apparently ignoring a black mascot, which led to a flood of racist accusations against him on social media. In their statement, Chelsea condemned the abuse as 'completely unacceptable' and defended Gallagher, suggesting that the video was taken out of context. Mauricio Pochettino, speaking on the matter, questioned the assumption that Gallagher intentionally ignored the mascot and expressed his sadness over the situation, emphasizing that Gallagher did not deserve such abuse.
"It makes me very sad, and I know Conor, and he doesn’t deserve to be abused; no one deserves it, but come on, not him" Mauricio Pochettino 'so upset' over Conor Gallagher racism accusations as Chelsea release statement ✍️ @NizaarKinsella https://t.co/dcfaj0U3Sp
Chelsea defend Conor Gallagher after the Premier League star's Instagram was flooded with comments calling him racist, over a video clip appearing to show him ignoring a black mascot https://t.co/RBDh7wPr8S https://t.co/NNJ2KHjGCk
"How do you know the intention of Conor was to ignore the mascot?" Mauricio Pochettino responds to social media abuse aimed at Conor Gallagher for not high-fiving a mascot pre-match. https://t.co/ViczDzbVCS
Chelsea release statement defending Conor Gallagher after midfielder received vile abuse online https://t.co/tUAX9j2O4s
Chelsea slam ‘completely unacceptable’ abuse following viral Conor Gallagher video https://t.co/qqqi7yEYMm
Chelsea issue Conor Gallagher statement after star abused over mascot 'snub' https://t.co/KjYhm3KIwo https://t.co/mHareH4bCR
Chelsea respond to ‘out of context’ video after Conor Gallagher suffers online abuse https://t.co/vhxm4bAHl2
Breaking: Chelsea release statement on Conor Gallagher video 👇 #CFC https://t.co/Dvqn0V7ORm
Why Mauricio Pochettino was 'sorry' as deeply concerning trend threatens to cost him Chelsea job 🔵 #CFC | @BobbyVincentFL https://t.co/UD8k5Gcrmx