Yaya Toure vows to ‘never stop telling them they are wrong’ after racist abuse

'It's a disgrace to be honest. We need to do something to try to tell people those kinds of behaviour have to stop' says Toure after he was the subject of racial abuse after rejoining Twitter.

Yaya Toure of Manchester City closes down Fernandinho of during a team training session on Tuesday ahead of their Wednesday Champions League match against CSKA Moscow. Alex Livesey / Getty Images / NoShow more

Yaya Toure has vowed not to let the racists wear him down after becoming the target of online abuse this week.

Police are investigating after the Manchester City midfielder received racially abusive tweets within hours of reactivating his Twitter account on Monday.

Toure, who withdrew from the social media site over the summer to concentrate on the World Cup, tweeted after City’s derby win over Manchester United at the weekend.

Some of the responses he received were of a racially offensive nature, prompting anti-discriminatory body Kick It Out to make a formal complaint to police.

The matter comes just over a year after Toure was the subject of racist chants during a Champions League match against CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital.

Toure, who is preparing to face CSKA again at the Etihad Stadium tonight, promised to stand up to the abuse.

The 31-year-old told BBC Sport: “For me it’s a disgrace to be honest. We need to do something to try to tell people those kinds of behaviour have to stop. I want those people to understand what they’re doing is wrong.”

Asked if he was hurt, he added: “To be honest with you, no, because I’ve been attacked like that for many years. I will never stop telling them they are wrong and have to change.”

The abuse received by Toure in Moscow was the first of three offences by CSKA fans that led to the sides’ clash at the Khimki Arena a fortnight ago being played, officially, behind closed doors.

The Russian champions’ punishment continues as they will have no fans in Manchester for their latest encounter with City having been banned from selling tickets.

With City having guaranteed a sell out with a “buy one, get one free” ticket offer, the stadium will be full of home fans for a match they will be anxious to win.

Having surrendered a two-goal lead to draw in Moscow, City have just two points from their opening three Group E matches and trail leaders Bayern Munich by seven points.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini recognises his side can ill afford to drop many more points, although he does not see it as win or bust yet.

The Chilean said: “I think it is a very important game but it is not a ‘death’ game because until mathematics can’t fix (it), you can continue.

“We must win this game because we have just two points and we have three games to play and it is very important to have more points.

“But we will consider it not a final game but a very very important game.”

City will be without defender Aleksandar Kolarov, midfielder Frank Lampard and playmaker David Silva.

The match is equally important for CSKA, who have just one point from three games, and coach Leonid Slutsky is not giving up hope of progress.

Slutsky said: “Bayern are obviously the favourites but we have a chance. You can look on paper but we will see what happens.”

There has been no repeat this time of the claims made by CSKA striker Ahmed Musa a fortnight ago that City are “weak” opponents.

Defender Vasili Berezutski said: “We have heard about Musa saying these words. Manchester City are one of the best teams. We doubt he said that because we do respect Manchester City.”

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