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Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has reportedly been questioned by police over accusations that he hurled racial abuse at an airline staff member at Heathrow Airport. The Independent and Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Xhaka was interviewed by police on Monday evening after he was accused of verbally abusing a white British Airways employee at Heathrow. The incident allegedly happened after Xhaka's friend was not allowed to board his plane to Germany because he had missed the check-in deadline. Xhaka was then questioned at a London police station, but was not arrested. The Independent said a complaint was made by an eyewitness who claimed Xhaka racially insulted a BA staff member in German. Heathrow and British Airways referred all questions about the incident to Metropolitan Police, who issued a statement saying: "Police were called at 19:29hrs on Monday, 23 January following an allegation that a member of staff had been racially abused at Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five. "The allegation was made by a third party. "Officers attended and spoke with a man in his 20s. He was not arrested. He voluntarily attended a west London police station where he was interviewed under caution. Enquires continue." Arsenal said "this is a private matter which is in the hands of the police," but would not comment further on the incident. Xhaka's alleged outburst happened just a day after the 24-year-old Switzerland international was sent off with a straight red card in Arsenal's 2-1 Premier League win over Burnley. That was just the latest example of poor discipline on the pitch by the midfielder, who has been sent off nine times in three years, but his image off the pitch has been squeaky clean until now. The incident continues a bad few days for Arsenal when it comes to bad behaviour, as manager Arsene Wenger is also facing an FA charge for misconduct for pushing the fourth official after he was sent to the stands during the game. Xhaka's red card was his second of the season and means he will face a four-game ban.
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