POLICE are investigating an allegation of racist abuse after Manchester City star Aleksandar Kolarov became involved in a heated exchange with a spectator at St James’s Park.
Northumbria Police confirmed they received a complaint in the wake of City’s 1-3 Barclays Premier League victory at Newcastle on Saturday.
A spokesman said: “Northumbria Police has received a report of racist language having been used at the St James’s Park stadium during the Newcastle United versus Manchester City match.
“Northumbria Police takes such allegations extremely seriously and inquiries are ongoing into the incident.”
It is understood the 27-year-old Serbia international became involved in a lengthy exchange with a supporter carrying an Albania flag as he warmed up on the sidelines during the game.
There is a long history of tension between Serbia and Albania, particularly over the disputed Kosovo region.
Neither club was commenting on the matter, although it is understood that Kolarov will be spoken to by police this week.
The defender was introduced as a 37th-minute replacement for the injured Samir Nasri.
He was also substituted 18 minutes from time. In an unrelated incident, a flare was thrown into a section of the home fans during the fixture which saw Newcastle slump to a home defeat.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police confirmed they were not investigating the flare incident, which saw blue smoke billow into the air.
The race claims come just days after the Serbian FA were ordered to pay a £65,000 fine for racist abuse during the country’s game against England U21s in an ugly Euro 2013 qualifier in Krusevac in October.
The punishment has been branded an insult by football organisations across the country who have called for harsher penalties .
Sunderland star Danny Rose and some of his team-mates were racially abused, assaulted and pelted with missiles.
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