Israeli has been in the Premier League since 2005.
Chelsea midfield player Yossi Benayoun has spoken in depth for the very first time about the racist abuse that he suffered at the hands of his own fans earlier this season, reports the Daily Mail.
The Israel international has been at Stamford Bridge for the past three years, after arriving in west London from Liverpool on a three-year deal worth just £5.5 million in July 2010.
However, the 33-year-old has had to endure an up-and-down time of it in the capital, being shipped out on loan to both Arsenal and former club West Ham United along the way.
Benayon did, though, enjoy a happier second half to the previous campaign under his one-time boss at Anfield, Rafa Benitez, being part of the victorious Blues squad that won the Uefa Europa League against Benfica in Amsterdam earlier this month.
But the player has now spoken about the racist abuse that he suffered while playing for Chelsea at Liverpool in the Premier League last April.
“I was warming up, in readiness for the substitution, when I started getting it from one or two fans,” said Benayoun in an interview in his homeland.”
“There were threatening words like ‘little so and so Jew’ and other stuff that was worse.
“I had never encountered anything like that before in all my career. I have played in Spain and the Premier League, and all over the world with the Israel national team, but I’ve never had that.
“I suppose you have to accept there are racist supporters throughout the world who can target you at any time, but it’s still not nice. I complained about it to Chelsea officials, and they said they would investigate, along with the police.”
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