Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out have demanded that West Ham make a statement over alleged racist remarks made to club captain Nigel Reo-Coker.
Reo-Coker's agent Tony Finnigan claimed last night that the 22-year-old England under-21 international received a letter at the club's Chadwell Heath training ground last week containing racist abuse - plus another which allegedly said "I hope you die over what happened to Pardew".And now Kick It Out - who have criticised the United support a number of times in recent years - have demanded that Hammers empresario Eggert Magnusson make a statement denouncing racism - despite Finnigan having no evidence whatsoever to support his claims, having mysteriously advised his client to dispose of the offending letters.
Spokesman and Director of KIO, Piara Powar, called for action to be taken this afternoon.
"I don't know whether there is any police intervention pending in this matter but I think it is time West Ham's new owners came out and said publicly that this kind of thing will not be tolerated," he said.
"I imagine West Ham, like many clubs, have a notice in their match programme pointing out their abhorrence of racist behaviour, but I also think a clear statement from the new owners would let everybody know where they stand.
"All of us at the Kick it Out campaign are really disappointed to hear about this. It must be shocking to some people that a footballer, especially a club captain, is treated this way.
"He is not West Ham's captain for nothing - especially at just 22. The manager who appointed him must have been sure he had the ability and commitment to the club to do the job. And for people to blame him on the grounds of his race just because things have gone wrong is terrible.
"Of course, we all know there are some people around who have a screw loose or take the game far too seriously."
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