FA investigate Liverpool Women racism claim
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A Liverpool Women player is under investigation for allegations of racism.
Rafael Borggrafe allegedly made reference to skin colour in a remark overhead by some staff and teammates while preparing to take a pre-season squad photograph.
An ongoing internal probe by the WSL side is understood to be ongoing but will also now face scrutiny from the Football Association over the purported words used.
Borggrafe missed the Reds’ opening defeat to Everton earlier this month with manager Gareth Taylor offering the reason as simply an ‘internal club issue’.
The goalkeeper, who arrived from Freiburg this summer, returned to the match day squad for last weekend’s defeat at Leicester City as an unused substitute.
“Liverpool Football Club is aware of an alleged use of discriminatory language by an LFC Women’s player,” confirmed a club statement.
“The club has followed its protocols to the fullest extent and the alleged incident has been reported to the FA, which is conducting an investigation with our full support.
“We condemn all forms of discrimination; it has no place in football or society.
We are unable to comment further while the investigation is ongoing.”
Taylor confirmed ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Aston Villa that Borggrafe is available for selection despite missing training on Thursday due to an unrelated family issue.
He said: “We are being really helpful and respectful of the process that you have to go through when that happens.
“So we’re working alongside the FA whilst that process continues.
“We dealt with it in the appropriate manner initially and, of course, [we’re] trying to support all the players but also making them aware that, as a club, and surely as a nation, it’s something that obviously we don’t stand for.
“But we have to be respectful of the process and make sure we follow the right process.”