Sunderland issue strong statement as Brian Brobbey hit with vile racist abuse

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Sunderland have come out and "condemned in the strongest possible terms" racist abuse aimed at Brian Brobbey as they called on authorities to take swift action.

The Dutchman, who moved to the Stadium of Light from Ajax in the summer, was targeted after the Black Cats saw off Tottenham , pushing them ever closer towards the drop.

Sunderland have taken a hard line on the abuse that Brobbey was subjected to, and underlined the fact that this is not the first time one of their players has had to digest such an unsavoury act. As a result they made it clear they want to see action taken.

A club statement read: "Sunderland AFC condemns in the strongest possible terms the racist abuse directed at Brian Brobbey on social media following Sunday's fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

"We stand firmly with Brian and offer him our full and unwavering support. This is not an isolated incident. Recent abuse directed at Romaine Mundle and Lutsharel Geertruida highlights the ongoing and unacceptable frequency of this behaviour, both inside stadiums and online.

"The club has reported this incident to the Premier League , the relevant social media platforms, and the police, and we expected swift action to be taken against those responsible.

"Racism is abhorrent and has no place in our game or in society, and we will continue to call it out clearly and unapologetically every time it occurs. Football must be a safe and inclusive environment for all - without exception."

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Brobbey has scored six times in 25 outings for the newly promoted side, who have hugely impressed having been tipped for relegation. The 24-year-old scored a memorable equaliser against Arsenal earlier this term, netting against the Premier League leaders in stoppage time.

The Dutch star led the line for Sunderland as they beat Tottenham on Sunday. Nordi Mukiele's strike on the hour proved to be the match winner after Micky van de Ven's heavy deflection saw it hit the back of the net.

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