African footballer chased, beaten, racially abused by crowd in Kerala

A football player from the Ivory Coast in West Africa was chased and beaten up by a crowd in Kerala's Malappuram district during a Sevens football tournament held in the region recently. In a video that went viral, a group of people are seen beating up the footballer Dairrassouba Hassane Junior in an open ground.

Football player being chased and beaten up by the crowd in Kerala.(X/Shashank Shekhar Jha)

Meanwhile, a man wearing a white t-shirt is seen shielding the Hassane from the blows. The man is also seen talking to the irate people later. The footballer is then seen leaving through a gate.

The incident took place after the footballer allegedly kicked one of the men, India Today said in a report. However, the footballer said in his complaint that the crowd had racially abused him. The Areekode police have recorded Hassane's complaint in connection with the matter.