Walsall to back Colchester keeper in racism inquiry

Colchester United goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala (left) and Walsall head coach Lee Grant [BBC Images] Walsall boss Lee Grant has said the Saddlers will support fellow League Two side Colchester United in the process of establishing whether U's goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala was racially abused in Saturday's game in Essex. The League Two match, which Walsall won 3-1, was halted in the second half when 23-year-old French keeper Lo-Tutala - who is on loan from Premier League club Hull City - claimed to have heard a potentially racist comment from the away end. A discussion followed between Grant, Colchester manager Danny Cowley and match referee Declan Brown, assistant referees Jon Block and Daniel D'Urso and fourth official Ian Cooper. "He's heard something," Grant told BBC Radio WM ."He wasn't crystal clear on whether it was concrete on what he heard. "But, if their goalkeeper said he has heard something that shouldn't have been said, then it has to be dealt with - and in the way they have dealt with it. "The goalkeeper followed protocol to a T. And the fourth official, the referee and the two linesmen were excellent. They called us over. "It has to be followed in the right way. I expect he will sit down with their club staff and his manager, but we will support him and everyone fully until the process has run its course." Kick It Out When asked whether what Lo-Tutala reported was something racist, Grant added: "We'd be appalled if that was the case. "For me to be clear, I wasn't there, I didn't hear it. But that's not to say that it isn't factual." The clubs issued near identical statements on Saturday evening confirming that "an investigation has been launched, in line with standard protocol, after a report of discriminatory language towards a Colchester United player was made". Both clubs say they will work with Essex Police and West Midlands Police "to ascertain what was allegedly said and subsequently take any action necessary". They both added that "discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated and anyone found guilty of such offences will be subject to arrest, or a football banning order." Lo-Tutala spent his junior footballing years in London with career with West Ham United, Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur. He left Spurs in August 2022 to sign for Hull. He has yet to make his debut for the Tigers but has made five loan moves in his time there, to Stevenage, Doncaster Rovers (twice), Crawley Town and now Colchester. All the latest Walsall news