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Police to look into racist online abuse of Manchester City star Yaya Toure
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Police have confirmed that they are investigating claims of racial abuse towards Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure on Twitter.
Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said it had "received complaints" about two tweets of a "racist nature" and had informed the police on Monday.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "Officers are currently investigating."
Toure had only reactivated his account on Monday following a five month break from the social networking site, but allegedly 'within hours' he had received messages of a racial and abusive nature.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said he expected the matter would be dealt with by the relevant authorities.
"The people in charge will do the right things...I think Yaya is an experienced player. He is always trying to fight against those things but I don't think he will have any problem about that, to play in the way he knows to do it," the City manager said.
Toure has been the victim of racial abuse in the past, having been the victim of racist chants when City played CSKA Moscow in the Champions League last season.
They faced the same opponents in this year's group stages, and played the same fixture in an empty stadium, a result of a UEFA sanction for crowd trouble at the Russian club.