• Premier League

Boruc claims Southampton fans racially abused him

ESPN staff
March 22, 2013
Artur Boruc threw a water bottle into the crowd © PA Photos
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Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc claims he was racially abused by the club's fans when he threw a water bottle into the stands during his home debut in October.

Boruc reacted angrily during Southampton's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, and although the club took no action against him after an investigation, he was dropped by former St Mary's manager Nigel Adkins.

The Poland international regained his place in the team at the start of the year, but claimed Adkins had not wanted him in the team and had been provided with an excuse to drop him.

He told Polish newspaper Republic: "I won't say I regret it, because I heard insults from the stands. Racist ones.

"I blamed myself for it because I gave Adkins the reason that he could sit me on the bench. One must remember I joined them when not ready (he had arrived as a free agent), so I had to catch up with the rest."

Boruc said Adkins "didn't see me in the team" but "his bosses decided to hire a new goalie because the team played poorly". He said he had had to come to terms with a different role, explaining: "The games I played I didn't do too well, and there was the incident with the bottle.

"But I like such challenges, and feel good when I hit the bottom because you can start from scratch."

Southampton have not responded to the goalkeeper's claims.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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