Reading duo receive death threats

12 April 2012

Police are investigating death threats made to Reading duo Ibrahima Sonko and Stephen Hunt in the wake of their side's recent Barclays Premiership game with Chelsea.

The pair were involved in the incidents which saw Blues goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini hospitalised during the Royals' 1-0 Madejski Stadium defeat last month.

Thames Valley Police said on www.bbc.co.uk: "The club is helping us with our inquiry and the matter is being investigated."

A Chelsea spokesman added: "There is nothing to suggest these threats came from genuine Chelsea fans."

According to the Reading Chronicle newspaper, one letter said: "We are going to kill you for what you did to our players."

The first letter was treated as a joke and pinned up on the door of Reading's training ground dressing room, but the arrival of subsequent letters saw the police called in to investigate. Hunt was involved in a first-minute collision with Cech, who suffered a fractured skull which is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season.

"The club is dealing with all my letters and I don't want to say any more," said winger Hunt.

Cudicini was carried off on a stretcher following a final-minute collision with Sonko and required oxygen. He only recently returned to action, while Cech is still out.

Sonko confirmed he had received a letter but made no further comment. Neither player faced any sanction from the Football Association.

Chelsea's spokesman added: "Naturally, we condemn any threats of this nature and we will assist the police fully if - and we stress if - there is any evidence linking theses threats to any of our supporters."

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