Kieron Dyer feels used by Newcastle for defending Emre from racism allegations

Kieron Dyer believes he was used by Newcastle to defend team-mate Emre Belozoglu from allegations of racism because he is black.

Emre was charged with using racially aggravated language towards Everton defender Jospeh Yobo during a Premier League match on December 30, 2006. 

Sportsmail reported at the time that Emre was alleged to have called Yobo ‘a f****** n*****’. Yobo did not hear what Emre said but Tim Howard and Joleon Lescott accused the Turkey midfielder of abuse.

Kieron Dyer feels Newcastle chose him to help defend his team-mate  Emre Belozoglu from allegations of racism because he is black

Emre (left) was accused of calling Everton’s Jospeh Yobo (out of the picture) a ‘f****** n*****’ 

Dyer recalls Joleon Lescott going ‘f****** ballistic’ at what Emre was alleged to have said 

He was cleared in March 2007 and Dyer has explained how, in hindsight, he is uncomfortable with how he was used as part of Emre’s defence. 

‘There was a time at Newcastle, we played Everton away and we had Emre and there was a massive skirmish with him and (Joseph) Yobo and Joleon Lescott was going f****** ballistic,’ Dyer told The Kick Off.

‘He was saying ‘He (Emre) has said something racist about Yobo’ and they were trying to get to him in the tunnel. I’ve never seen Joleon so mad. They reported it to the referee and there was a big, massive FA hearing.

‘Because I was on the pitch and probably because I was black, Newcastle asked me to go as a witness to Emre. I went and I had to tell the truth, which was I didn’t hear anything racist. I told my side of the story.

‘The more I think about that, just from Joleon’s reaction, he wouldn’t go mad for that and knowing what I do now and maturing, I really regret going to that hearing. Even though Emre was on my team, even though I didn’t hear nothing. You don’t have that reaction for nothing.

When he was asked if he felt he was used by Newcastle, Dyer said: ‘Of course I was. Of course I was. Emre was a team-mate and a friend and I didn’t hear nothing, it wasn’t like I lied on oath for him. I didn’t hear nothing.

‘But knowing what I know and just seeing the reaction, if that had happened the way I am today, seeing Joleon’s reaction and the club asked me to be a witness, I’d say no.’

Emre was eventually cleared of racially abusing Everton defender Yobo in March 2007

Emre denied the allegations and his agent said he was ‘absolutely distraught’ by them

Emre always fiercely denied the allegations. His agent, Ahmet Bulut, told The Guardian: ‘He is so, so upset because this is the first time in his whole career or life that anything like this has been said about him.

‘He is absolutely distraught but knows these claims are not true.’

When he was cleared, a statement from an FA disciplinary commission said:  ‘Having heard all the evidence presented, and having regard to the standard of proof agreed with both the FA and Newcastle United, we were not satisfied that the charge was proved.’