Merseyside Police probe 'racist' Kelvin Mackenzie S*n article comparing Ross Barkley to a gorilla

The Mayor has pointed out that Barkley has Nigerian heritage and has been labelled "a gorilla" by the reviled columnist

Police are investigating Kelvin Mackenzie’s column published in the S*n over allegations of racial hate crime.

Merseyside Police said it has received an online complaint from a member of the public related to the column where he appeared to compare Everton’s Ross Barkley to a gorilla.

In a section of Mr Mackenzie’s column titled “Here’s why they go ape at Ross”, the former editor wrote that Barkley’s eyes make him “certain not only are the lights not on, there is definitely nobody at home”, adding: “I get a similar feeling when seeing a gorilla at the zoo.”

There is also an image of a Gorilla posted next to a picture of the midfielder - who was attacked on a night out this week.

The England international has a Nigerian grandfather, which has led some - including Mayor Joe Anderson - to label the comments as racist.

The police investigation comes as a result of a complaint made by Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson.

Blues fan Mayor Anderson confirmed that he has reported Kelvin Mackenzie to Merseyside Police for the “racist slur” and is contacting the independent press regulator (IPSO).

Mayor Anderson shared the image within the Mackenzie column of Barkley next to a Gorilla on twitter, stating: “Sorry to share The S*n but it is important for people to see just how despicable the publshed Mackenzie article is.”

Speaking to the ECHO, he added: “I think a lot of people don’t realise that Ross has Nigerian heritage and here Mackenzie is calling him an ape.

“He has not only attacked the people of Liverpool but he has made a racist slur against Ross Barkley and people need to realise that.

“So I have reported him and The S*n to Merseyside Police and have drafted a letter to the press regulator.”

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that we have received an online complaint from a member of the public alleging that comments written about a third party constitute a racial hate crime.

“Enquiries are now being carried out to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

“We take all allegations of hate crime extremely seriously and would encourage anyone who feels they have been the victim of a hate crime or who has witnessed one to contact us.”

Earlier today the city leader said he was “embarrassed” to be an Everton fan in light of the club refusing to ban the S*n and suggested they were effectively condoning Mr Mackenzie’s comments.

He said: “This weekend of all weekends, when we are trying to do something to remember the 96 fans who died at Hillsborough, at the same time Everton are allowing The S*n - which is still violently attacking our city - into its press conferences.

“For god’s sake, stop embarrassing the fans, they are attacking the city and the club is saying it’s ok - I feel embarrassed to be an Everton fan.”

Mr Mackenzie’s column suggested that suggested the only people who could earn similar amounts to footballers in Liverpool are drug dealers.

We have contacted The S*n for a comment.