Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has reportedly been racially abused on Facebook for refusing to wear the club's new shirt with sponsors Wonga being emblazoned on the front.
The 27-year-old is said to have received abusive messages of a racial nature on the social network site from a group called Newcastle - English Defence League.
"We have been made aware of abusive comments made on Facebook," The Mirror quotes Northumbria Chief Supt Dianne Winship as saying. "Northumbria Police take all reports of abuse very seriously and enquiries are being conducted."
The Senegalese forward is refusing to wear the new strip due to his Muslim beliefs.