Teens quizzed over Collymore abuse

Football pundit Stan Collymore has re-activated his Twitter account and announced police have spoken to two teenagers about abuse he received online.

The 43-year-old former England striker closed his account overnight, after speaking out over the previous days about racist messages and death threats he has received, and criticising Twitter for not doing more to stop it.

The decision to close his Twitter feed also followed an interview by The Sun with his ex-lover Ulrika Jonsson, in which she accused him of hypocrisy, saying: “No one should give this man a platform to claim he is a victim. With his history of violence, it is beyond ironic.”

Collymore attacked her in a Paris bar during the 1998 World Cup when they were dating. He later blamed petulance, jealousy and too much drink.

The former Liverpool player, from Cannock, Staffordshire, spoke on the Bleacher Report website about the “15-year-old story”, saying it had “no relevance to being racially abused”.

So Miss Jonsson perpetuates the myth in the S##

Absolutely desperate. Changing her story to suit the decade and the story.

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) January 22, 2014

I ask again.

A pro athlete, kicking and punching wildly with aggression. Why no knock out? No bleeding? No bruising? No pictures? Why?

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) January 23, 2014

Feel free to screenshot every last tweet in this reply to the S## and it's complete lack of support against racist about and threats.

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) January 23, 2014

He claimed the story implied there was a justification for the abuse he received, and “that because it’s Stan Collymore, it’s OK”.

He added: “A 14-year-old is being talked to by police in Merseyside and a 15-year-old in Bedfordshire.

“I think it goes to show there is a real issue that Twitter needs to tackle.”

He was singled out by some Reds fans after he claimed the Kop star Luis Suarez dived to win a penalty against Villa.

Internet trolls joined the abuse and he was sent racist messages and death threats. Staffordshire Police are investigating.

Staffordshire Police Statement to people living in Staffordshire after today.http://t.co/Dhz6SC4WPY

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) January 22, 2014

Twitter’s alleged inaction led Collymore’s employer Talksport radio to announce it would no longer promote the social networking site on air.

Police take all complaints seriously,whoever it is.

I've waited 6 weeks for twitter to provide information to Police.

Yet to respond.

— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) January 21, 2014

In a statement on its own site, Twitter told users: “Direct, targeted abuse and specific threats of violence are against our rules.

“You can let us know if you see abusive tweets by using the new ‘Report Tweet’ button or through our online forms.”

Collymore later tweeted: “I deactivated due to more racism/threats overnight which are being passed on, and to see if Twitter’s protocol works. We’ll see!”