Yorke free to leave Birmingham, says Sullivan

BIRMINGHAM co-owner David Sullivan has revealed Dwight Yorke can leave the club if he wishes to following a row over racism.

Sullivan stirred up a hornet’s nest after playing down an incident in which Yorke was allegedly racially abused during Sunday’s Premiership draw at Blackburn.

The multi-millionaire said the incident had been “blown out of proportion” and has been condemned for his comments, notably by Portsmouth keeper Shaka Hislop and ex-Birmingham striker Stern John.

But Sullivan insisted: “In society there is a major problem with people being intolerant of other people. But football is the most racial-free part of society, you don’t see any racial problems at football grounds. I would say the old nursery rhyme ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’ is true.

“I’ve been spat at at football grounds, and punched. Whether I was punched for being white or for being Birmingham City co-owner makes no difference to me.”

Asked what his reaction would be should Yorke decide he wants to leave St Andrews, Sullivan said: “If he does, then I admire him for standing by his principles, but I would be very surprised if he did. If he wants to do that, the club wouldn’t stand in his way.

“I would happily write off the transfer fee (which Birmingham paid Blackburn in the summer) if that’s what he wants. I will speak to him. He may even agree with what I said.”

Manager Steve Bruce spoke in defence of Sullivan, stating: “He’s certainly not racist. We’ve got half the team here that we’ve bought and he’s put the money together for the black players we’ve brought into the club. I don’t think he’s made the comments in the way that’s been construed.”

Two men have been arrested over the abuse of Yorke, and handed themselves into Blackburn police station yesterday.

Bruce also confirmed that police officers have interviewed Yorke and the player will press charges.

“We’re 100% behind Dwight and the action he took. We’ll let the police authorities deal with it and do as they see fit. He’ll be charged, but I don’t know what police procedure is.

“There’s no room for it, we’ve seen the ugly, horrible side of it last week in Spain, it obviously still exists and even though just one person out of 22,000, that’s one person too many. We have to do our utmost to stamp it out.”

Arsene Wenger believes referee Herbert Fandel would be wrong to stop tonight’s Champions League tie in Eindhoven if there is any repeat of the racist abuse which marred Arsenal’s last visit to PSV.

“The referee is the boss and we always do what he says, but I still think it’s wrong,” he declared.