Di Matteo condemns Twitter cowards
Jon Obi Mikel was targeted for abuse following a mistake in his team's 2-2 draw with Juventus
Roberto Di Matteo has accused John Obi Mikel's Twitter trolls of hiding behind their keyboards as he condemned the racist abuse of the midfielder.
The Blues have contacted the police over two "totally unacceptable, disgusting and abhorrent" posts directed at Nigeria star Mikel following Wednesday's Champions League draw with Juventus. The abuse occurred at around the same time Mikel deleted his Twitter account.
Manager Di Matteo said: "His intention was to close the account anyway. So it was a good reason to close it. The social media world, especially Twitter - because it's anonymous and so on - it's a dangerous vehicle to express yourself. I don't think it's fair. If somebody has to express his opinion, he should put his face to it."
Chelsea were keen to stress there was currently no evidence that the racist abuse of Mikel had come from their own supporters. But they promised lifetime bans for those involved if that proved to be the case.
The abuse of Mikel occurred after his mistake helped Juve come back from 2-0 down in Wednesday night's Group E game, something for which the midfielder immediately apologised.
News of the tweets about him emerged on the same night Lazio fans were accused of directing monkey chants at Tottenham's black players in the sides' Europa League clash at White Hart Lane.
Di Matteo added: "There's a lot of campaigns against (racism) and we have to try our best to fight it in every possible way.
"We should try to make the people understand that it hurts other people, chanting and things like that."
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oh i would so like to write a comment
footballers?
wow.
When i do watch and see OLYMPIC style performances.
Aren't you embarrassed..
Olga Korbet would be proud of the two and a half somersaults with a half twist.
Disgusting.
Then you get up and swear at the ref.
Great ambassasadors for your sport.
people are to quick to shout racial abuse at anybody who does something wrong
but sometimes its not meant as an insult to there colour
if obi was white and had a big nose or ginger hair he would have recieved abuse about being ginger or had his nose refered to.everyone pin points a focal point
carlos tevez (scar) john terry (antics off field) ballotteli (mohican) obi has no major focal
points other than his colour. its just how society sees you
admitidly there are exceptions and these should be dealt with.
but abuse from the croud/fans will always continue because they are pasionate
about there club and want to win.
with all that said obi was and has been giveing the ball away to often and this needs to be addressed right now
