D’Tigers
A Lithuanian fan has been arrested here for making racist monkey chants at Nigeria's D' Tigers.
Scotland Yard officials confirmed Wednesday that the 36-year-old man, who was arrested during the Nigeria versus Lithuania basketball game at the ExCel Centre of the Olympic Park, spent the night in police custody.
One witness reported hearing monkey chants aimed against the Nigerians as the game was in progress from the section mostly occupied by the Lithuanian supporters.
"There was a whole block of men they were mostly drunk making that noise. It seemed to go on for about an hour. The noise they were making was deafening and was clearly monkey chants," observed the witness.
They were not contented with the fact that their country was leading Nigeria, they wanted to show their race superiority too.
One of the stewards posted to the venue, similarly admitted to one of the Lithuanians giving a Nazi salute on sighting two black staff of the centre.
"Our team leader went over to them to try to get them to calm down but they didn't, what can you do? We have no powers to arrest," claimed the steward.
But police authorities arrested the monkey chanting fan under the Public Order Act and held him overnight in cell and was being questioned as at press time last night.
Scotland Yard had launched the undercover operation following similar complaints against the Lithuania on Sunday when they played Argentina in their first basketball game which they lost.
A statement from Scotland spokesman Wednesday read: "Officers within the basketball area arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
"This was the result of a pro-active operation by officers from the Met and stewards following concerns raised by members of the public as to the conduct of a small element of the crowd at a previous event," concludes the statement.
Press Attache to Team Nigeria, Tony Ubani, praised the police for promptly arresting the monkey chanting Lithuanian.
"We praise the effort of the police for the arrest and hope that it will serve as deterrent to others who may be nursing plans to racially abuse other races here for the games. The Olympic charter is very clear on issues like this. There is no room for racism in what ever form at the Games."
Osaze Odemwingie and a host of other Nigerian footballers had in the past suffered racial abuses in Europe. Odemwingie dumped the Russian league due to the constant racial jibes he was subjected to during matches.