A FORMER Colchester United footballer was racially abused by a homeless woman before kicking over her begging cup and covering her in water in retaliation.
Ryan Gondoh, 23, signed for Colchester United in 2018 before being released the following year after a loan spell at FC Halifax Town.
The midfielder, who made six appearances for the Us during his time in the English Football League Two, now plays in the National League for Wealdstone FC.
He has shared a video online in which he receives a tirade of racist abuse from a homeless woman begging for change in London.
In the clip, which has since been deleted, Ryan reacts to her highly-offensive language branding her a “little tramp”.
The homeless woman, sitting outside Queensway Underground Station, initially denies racially abusing him, but then proceeds to repeatedly call him the N-word.
Following the repeated verbal assault Ryan then says: “You know when you call people n***** and you are racist and all that? It isn’t going to get you far in life.”
After promising to put some money in her begging cup, he then kicks it over before saying: “The old me would have kicked you in your head.”
The video then shows him returning a short while later and pouring a bottle of water over the woman’s head before she flees into the station.
Ryan’s current club, Wealdstone FC, yesterday issued a short statement addressing the incident.
A spokesman said: “The club is aware of an incident involving Ryan Gondoh.
“There is absolutely no place in society for racism, discrimination or any form of violence.
“The club will be discussing this incident with Ryan in due course.”
Since publishing the footage on his social media account, which has now been made private, the footballer has been sent racist messages.
Colchester United players such as Frank Nouble and Ryan Clampin, however have rallied around Ryan by tweeting supportive messages using the hashtag #ImWithGondoh.
A spokesman for Colchester United said: “We are aware of an incident with one of our former players being racially abused.
“The club condemns racism and any form of discrimination, there is absolutely no place for it in society.”
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