Rodgers condemns offensive social media post aimed at Celtic star Sinclair

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has called for more education to stamp out racism in football following an offensive social media post aimed at Scott Sinclair.

Sinclair expressed his revulsion after he became aware of a photograph posted online in which he is mentioned in what appears to be a racist caption.

The picture is of a young girl standing in front of an artwork depicting monkeys and includes the caption: ‘just bumped into Scott Sinclair at Edinburgh Zoo’. 

A force spokeswoman for Police Scotland said in a widely released statement: “A 17-year-old woman is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with alleged contravention of section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.”

Sinclair tweeted about the post, writing:  “Absolutely disgusted yet again, how can a person use a child to promote racism, it’s beyond me.” 

Absolutely disgusted yet again, how can a person use a child to promote racism, it’s beyond me https://t.co/45LQMUwuXz

— Scott Sinclair (@Scotty_Sinclair) May 2, 2017

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Rodgers said: “Racism, whether it’s in football or society, there’s absolutely no place for it.

“Scott has been playing the game for quite a long time and it says something that it’s the first time he has come across it in his life.

“It shows that education and training is needed to stamp it out as it should never come into play at all.

“He is absolutely fine. He has got all the support of all the people here and the supporters and he moves on from it.”

Last Sunday, Sinclair was the victim of a monkey chant from a Rangers fan that was caught on camera during Celtic’s 5-1 victory in the Old Firm derby.

The former Manchester City winger said afterwards: “This is probably one of the first times it’s happened to me in my career.

“There’s no need for the racism in this day and age. The small minority should be kicked out.

“It just seems in football there’s still going to be people like that but, as myself, you’ve just got to deal with it and carry on.”