Wycombe Wanderers striker D’Mani Mellor has stated he will ‘always smile in the face of racism’ after being subjected to discriminatory abuse on Saturday [April 22].
The 22-year-old, who is currently on loan at Rochdale from the Chairboys, received the slur after the club lost 1-0 away at Stockport County in League Two.
The defeat confirmed Dale's relegation from the Football League after a 102-year stay.
READ MORE: 'Disappointing and frustrating' - Matt Bloomfield on Wycombe's loss versus Lincoln
The club can confirm that an alleged incident of racist abuse, directed towards D’Mani Mellor following yesterday’s game, has been reported to the relevant authorities.
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) April 23, 2023
We have a zero-tolerance stance towards and utterly condemn any abuse of this kind.#RAFC
Taking to Twitter after the match, Mellor, who has featured in 17 games for the Greater Manchester side, said: “I completely understand the frustration and passion of supporters, but there is no room for racism in football, and nobody should be subjected to that kind of abuse.
“I am aware that people saw me smiling after full time, but this was as an instant reaction to the abuse I received, and in no way related to the matters on the pitch.
“I reacted in that way because I always smile in the face of racism.”
#Chairboys stand by Rochdale in their condemnation of an alleged incident of racial abuse directed towards @DmaniMellor and offer our full support to the player. https://t.co/o5BOp0Xi9J
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) April 23, 2023
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield on the rare positives in Wycombe's 2-0 home defeat against Lincoln
Both Wycombe, and Rochdale, have offered their support to the former Manchester United youth team player, with the latter stating that they ‘will be working with the relevant authorities and Stockport County to fully investigate the incident and try to identify any individual(s) involved.’
https://t.co/aR9RJsODhL pic.twitter.com/HoSW9ivF0L
— Dmani Mellor (@DmaniMellor) April 23, 2023
Mellor, prior to his move to the soon-to-be National League side in January, played 12 times for Wycombe, scoring once.
He is due to return back to Adams Park this summer.
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