NEDUM ONUOHA revealed he has been the victim of racist abuse SIX times — including twice when playing for England U-21s.
The QPR skipper, 31, said the most shocking incident came after the Young Lions’ 3-0 win in Montenegro in 2007.
Onuoha told ITV: “I heard monkey noises, so I turned around and it was ten armed security guards or police doing it.
“As I turned around, they rallied together and started staring at me. I wanted to defend myself but, as they were armed, I just decided to walk on.”
The defender spoke out in a survey showing more than 40 London players have been the victims of racial abuse.
And, while 62% of that mis-treatment came on the pitch, 38% was on social media.
It comes amid growing concerns black players might be targeted at the World Cup in Russia this summer.
Uefa has charged Zenit St Petersburg for racism in a Europa League game.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT England to jet in Jaffa Cakes, English mustard, baked beans and tea bags and get personal chef to check for poisoned food at World Cup in Russia
Home fans are accused of racist behaviour and throwing objects during last week’s 1-1 draw with Red Bull Leipzig.
Meanwhile, though, the survey by ITV London News shows problems closer to home can be just as stark
Yet 63% of the victims said they had NOT reported the abuse and 57% believe football cbiefs do not take the issue seriously enough.
Ebbsfleet keeper Nathan Ashmore claims the lack of support for racial abuse victims is worse outside the Football league.
He said: I’ll get called Pineapple Head every game, that’s standard. I couldn’t count how many times I’ve been abused over my whole career.
“The worst ones, I’ve been called a monkey, monkey chants, I’ve even had stuff thrown at me, I’ve had stuff like black ****”.
And of football’s authorities, he said: “Personally I don’t think they do enough.
“They might think they do, but more help is needed, especially in non league football because that’s where I think most of it happens because it doesn’t get reported enough and there aren’t many cameras, unlike in the Premier League.”
Ashmore’s National League team-mate Aaron McLean, the former Peterborough and Bradford striker, explained his whole career had been littered by racial abuse.
The 34-year-old said of his first memories as a young victim: “I was playing away, and when I was walking back into the tunnel a young lad who must have been 10 or 11-years-old was calling me a monkey, which is disgusting. His parents were with him”.
The survey covered 42 players from the the top seven tiers of English football.
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