CCTV TO HELP POLICE OVER MONYE HATE CRIME

POLICE are expected to be able to charge the man who allegedly racially abused Ugo Monye, after the incident outside Sandy Park in Exeter on Sunday was seen on CCTV. The suspect has been identified and one source told Mail Sport ‘they know who he is’. Those present claimed he had been a persistent ‘nuisance’ and ‘attention-seeker’, prior to his verbal attack on the former England wing. Footage of the flashpoint, which happened shortly after Exeter’s Premiership win over Gloucester, has been sent by the Chiefs to the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary. A police statement said: ‘We take all reports of hate crime extremely seriously and will not tolerate this behaviour.’

On Sunday evening, Monye, a TNT Sports pundit, posted on social media: ‘Leaving Sandy Park and one supporter running through crowd starts shouting “N***a, N***a”. Disgraceful. Not a single person said a word, challenged or even reported it. He walks off after a mild scuffle and fans are now telling me: “We’re with you”. B******* you’re with me. ‘You weren’t with me when you saw and heard the most blatant racism I’ve seen from a supporter at a live game. So fed up.’ There has been outrage in response to the episode and mass support for Monye from the rugby community and other sporting figures.

It is the second time this season that a member of TNT Sports staff has been verbally abused at Sandy Park, after reporter Jenny Drummond was subjected to aggressive comments there in September. A Chiefs statement read: ‘We have acted as quickly as possible to ensure this has been dealt with, following the advice of all appropriate authorities.’