Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka questioned by police over alleged racial abuse incident at airport

Arsenal's Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka has been accused of racially abusing a staff member at Heathrow Airport.

The allegation against the 24-year-old was made by a third party, according to a Metropolitan Police statement reported by the Daily Telegraph. Xhaka is not thought to have been with his Gunners teammates at the time of the alleged incident, which took place last night, and is understood to have voluntarily attended a police station for questioning. He has not been arrested in relation to the comments, which the Telegraph reports were made in German after a friend of Xhaka's was refused entry on a flight to the European country.

Xhaka had been sent off during Arsenal's game against Burnley on Sunday (photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The statement reads as follows:

'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 are yet to issue a statement on their website with regard to the allegations, though the Telegraph reports that the club was reluctant to comment on what has been described as a private and police matter. Xhaka is set to miss Arsenal's next four matches through suspension, after manager Arsène Wenger confirmed the club will not contest his red card against Burnley. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach man was given his marching orders for a foul on Steven Defour, and will sit out the Gunners' FA Cup fifth round meeting with Southampton as well as Premier League fixtures against Watford and Chelsea. The fourth game of his suspension will hinge on whether the cup game goes to a replay.