Sonko fears Chelsea fans' backlash
Friday, 22 Dec 2006 09:10
Stamford Bridge is an intimidating atmosphere for away teams
Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko admits he is "scared" ahead of tomorrow's Premiership rematch with Chelsea.
The 25-year-old collided with Blues goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini towards the end of the same match in which Stamford Bridge number one Petr Cech suffered a fractured skull.
Both Reading players that were involved in the two incidents in that match, Sonko and Stephen Hunt, received death threats resulting in both men being warned about their personal safety.
Reading and Chelsea meet in the return clash in west London tomorrow and Sonko has admitted that he is concerned that a "revenge attack" during the match is a possibility.
"I've been scared," he told the Sun newspaper.
"You have to take the letters seriously. Some people are nasty and capable of stupid things when it comes to revenge. It is on my mind."
Sonko said he was prepared for a backlash from fans in tomorrow's game but was careful to state that he was aware of the fact that the death threats "had nothing to do with Chelsea".
"You don't know where the letters have come from so you don't know how to protect yourself," he continued.
"It was stupid people with nothing to do other than sending letters but you have to take them seriously."