'Monkey gesture' fan arrested on suspicion of racially abusing black player at Chelsea match

• Gavin Kirkham held after attending London police station by appointment
• Accused of making gesture at Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck
• Kirkham, 28, told friend before arrest: 'I'm not racist. I'm just one of the boys'

A football fan accused of making racist monkey gestures apparently towards a black player during  Chelsea's match against Manchester United has been arrested.
Gavin Kirkham, 28, is accused of making the gestures at Stamford Bridge during Wednesday night's game, yards from England striker Danny Welbeck.
He was arrested today after attending a West London police station by appointment.

Arrested: Chelsea fan Gavin Kirkham appears to make a 'monkey' gesture at Stamford Bridge

'One of the boys': Kirkham (circled) appears to make a gesture towards Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck during the game

He is being held on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
Before his arrest, Kirkham denied being a racist and said he was 'just one of the boys'.

 

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'Officers investigating a complaint regarding alleged racist behaviour at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday have arrested a man.

Denial: The 28-year-old, posing here in a 'Borat mankini' on his MySpace page, claims he is not racist

'The 28-year-old man was arrested this afternoon, Monday, after attending a west London police station by appointment.
'He was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated Section 4A Public Order Act offence and currently remains in custody at the west London police station. Enquires continue.'
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reported to have said before the arrest that he does not want Kirkham back in the stadium if the allegations prove to be true.

Held: Kirkham, pictured above making a variety of facial gestures on a social networking site, was arrested after attending a West London police station by appointment

Dressing up: Kirkham was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence

Football fans have branded Kirkham 'an idiot' after he made the alleged 'monkey' gesture while sitting in the front row during the game with Manchester United.
Kirkham lists his pastimes on Facebook as Chelsea, playing football and drinking, the paper reported.
Chelsea Football Club said that they would 'take the strongest possible action, including supporting criminal prosecution' against the culprit following this latest incident while supporting police in their investigation.