Former Blues left-back Tyrone Mings has pulled out of an interview with Talksport in protest at their coverage of the alleged racist abuse of Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling at Chelsea at the weekend.
Four fans have been suspended from Stamford Bridge during the investigation of the incident, while Sterling, 24, subsequently accused newspapers of portraying young black footballers in a manner which helps to "fuel racism”.
Commenting on Talksport on Sunday, ex-Reading and Stoke frontman Dave Kitson claimed some players "make themselves a target” and that Sterling may have antagonised people and incited jealousy by posting about his luxury lifestyle on social media in the past, although adding that there is "no excuse whatsoever”for abuse.
Mings, who joined AFC Bournemouth from the Blues for £8 million in the summer of 2015, took issue with the coverage and pulled out of a scheduled appearance on the radio station.
"I’m meant to be doing an interview with Talksport [on Tuesday] which won’t be happening,” the 25-year-old wrote on Twitter.
"I’m fed up of broadcasting channels who have a huge voice allowing this sort of sh*t to be said. Like someone or dislike them, there is no ‘but’ or grey area when it comes to racism.
"Sometimes silence is just as powerful as trying to force someone to listen to you. If we all don’t do interviews with ‘them’ they will soon start to have a level of appreciation for what we bring to their sport.”
The Bath-born defender added: "I will absolutely voice my opinion and play my part for those who do not have as much of a reach. It has to be in the right way and on the right platforms though. Silence is deadly for stations and outlets who rely on viewers and listeners.”
I’m meant to be doing an interview with talksport tomorrow which won’t be happening.
I’m fed up of broadcasting channels who have a huge voice allowing this sort of sh*t to be said.
Like someone or dislike them, there is no ‘but’ or grey area when it comes to racism. https://t.co/PRMP07DDhp— Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) December 10, 2018
Sometimes silence is just as powerful as trying to force someone to listen to you. If we all don’t do interviews with ‘them’ they will soon start to have a level of appreciation for what we bring to their sport 🤷ðŸ½â€â™‚ï¸ https://t.co/9ShO3YoOCK
— Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) December 10, 2018
Sometimes silence is just as powerful as trying to force someone to listen to you. If we all don’t do interviews with ‘them’ they will soon start to have a level of appreciation for what we bring to their sport 🤷ðŸ½â€â™‚ï¸ https://t.co/9ShO3YoOCK
— Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) December 10, 2018