NEW YORK (AFP) — Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber says the league will ban a spectator who directed a racial slur at New England Revolution forward Kheli Dube during a recent match - if they can identify him.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Garber said MLS officials and Columbus Crew personnel are reviewing the incident, which occurred after Dube, who is black, scored in the 89th of the Revolution's 1-0 victory over the Crew on May 24.
Video shows Dube celebrating with his teammates as an off-camera voice is heard using a racial epithet and bottles and streamers are thrown at the players.
"MLS and the Columbus Crew have extensively reviewed an incident that took place during the Crew versus Revolution game on May 24 where there is audio of a spectator at Crew Stadium using vulgar language and an unacceptable and offensive racial epithet," Garber said. "The review included video posted on the Internet, and interviews with security personnel, fans and team officials.
"MLS and the Columbus Crew are working diligently with all relevant authorities, including club supporters groups, to identify the spectator involved.
"In the event the perpetrator is identified, he will be banned for life from Crew stadium and all other MLS stadiums and events."
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