Mensah Victim Of Racial Abuse

Ghana's John Mensah suffered racial abuse while playing for French club Lyon recently © MTNfootball.com

February 17, 2009

Lyon coach Claude Puel has refused to blame Ghanaian international skipper John Mensah for the defender’s sending off against Le Havre at the weekend.

Mensah was given his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards, but, along with other black players in the Lyon side, endured racial abuse from the Le Havre fans throughout.

"It's my fault - I should have taken him off beforehand," Puel told BBC Sport.

"John was shocked, he heard some scandalous words. I should perhaps have withdrawn him earlier - we tried to keep him on the pitch as I thought he had got over it."

Lyon went on to win the game 3-1 and one Le Havre fan was arrested by police in connection with the racist comments aimed at Mensah.