Former Portsmouth and Birmingham winger Viv Solomon-Otabor reveals being subjected to vile racist abuse

The former Pompey winger, who made 10 appearances on loan at Fratton Park last season, has told of the vile taunts he’s been subjected to since joining CSKA Sofia.

There’s been plenty of focus on the conduct of supporters in Bulgaria, after monkey chants were aimed at England players last October in the city where the 24-year-old plies his trade.

Solomon-Otabor told The Guardian he’s been through a similar experience during a cup tie at Arda in December.

The ex-Birmingham player also has been abused on Twitter, being called the N-word and sent monkey emojis.

Solomon-Otabor said: ‘I was warming up when I was racially abused by the Arda fans, so that was quite difficult.

‘I keep getting abusive messages, which is not nice. A fan told me to go home and I can’t say the words that he said.

‘I get sent silly, racial messages on Facebook. I try not to look any more. There are ones when they message you, you open the request and see a message and think: “Here we go.” Now I just block them and move on.’

Solomon-Otabor explained, that although welcomed by his new club, the experience he’s been through as made him uncomfortable in his new surroundings.

He added: ‘The hardest part is that I am alone. I’ve not lived in another country before and not feeling too comfortable when being out because of what happened to me on the pitch. That is the most difficult thing. I tend to just keep to myself and stay at home.

‘I have had no problems on the streets or anything like that. I think it’s just a mental thing; it’s just how it is. In the club everyone is fantastic.

‘It’s a great club with great history. Everyone at the club is proud of it and really respect the club, so it’s massive to them.

‘Everyone is nice and welcoming but there are stupid people who ruin these things, which is not nice for a young boy coming from England. I have never gone through something like this where you do not feel comfortable.’