• Premier League

Taylor apologises for offensive tweet

ESPN staff
November 15, 2013
Steven Taylor and team-mate Papiss Cisse, one of the players mentioned in the offensive tweet © Getty Images
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Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has apologised after posting a picture that sparked a racism storm on Twitter.

Taylor, 27, could find himself in trouble with the Football Association following the incident, which involved him tweeting an image that seemed to mock some of his Magpies teammates.

Replying to a message from Massadio Haidara, in which the full-back teased Taylor over his attempts at learning French, Taylor wrote: "It's always good to see you guys smiling."

The tweet contained a photo of teammate Vurnon Anita, and copied in the Twitter handles of Papiss Cisse, Moussa Sissoko and Anita.

Taylor quickly took down the picture but it had already been retweeted over 100 times. Despite Haidara later declaring the incident as "banter", the tweet provoked angry responses on the social networking site and was soon spread across a number of supporters' sites.

Taylor subsequently tweeted an apology for his behaviour.

The FA has yet to comment on the situation. Rio Ferdinand was hit with a £45,000 fine last season for his use of the term 'choc ice' on his Twitter account.

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