Chelsea have released a strong statement defending midfielder Conor Gallagher after what was described as a "misleading" video went viral on social media. The club has backed Gallagher after a clip involving the player and a Chelsea mascot was allegedly taken out of context and posted online.
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A video of the players lining up in the tunnel was shared that appeared to show Gallagher missing and ignoring a handshake from one of the mascots, having worn the captain's armband for the visit of Burnley at Stamford Bridge.
Gallagher led the team out in the absence of captain Reece James and vice-captain Ben Chilwell but the Blues were unable to take all three points, drawing 2-2 despite the visitors going down to 10 men thanks to Lorenz Assignon's first-half red card.
But after the full-time whistle, a clip involving Gallagher and a mascot appeared to show the England midfielder ignoring the child who offered a high-five, but a strong statement from Chelsea denied the claim and insisted that it was out of context and the abuse he has received is "unnecessary".
Chelsea's statement read: "Chelsea football club is aware of a video clip circulating on social media from Saturday’s fixture against Burnley, which has been taken considerably out of context.
"The subsequent level of abuse and defamatory comments directed towards Conor Gallagher is completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome."
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino similarly fumed at the backlash Gallagher has received online, explaining: "It's upset me so much.
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"No-one wants to do something like this with this intention. When you play football, you are focusing to play, to start the game, that sometimes can happen.
"People who try to find things to create a mess and to abuse the people that if you know, I know Conor, I know the people involved here at Chelsea. Never was his intention.
"Conor is a great, great kid, always is caring about everything. I think we believe we need to stop this type of thing (social media abuse). For people, it is so easy (to abuse people)."
