Sol Campbell has questioned whether skin colour might be a factor in the ongoing abuse that he receives from Tottenham Hotspur fans.
The former centre half left Spurs for rivals Arsenal in 2001 on a free transfer that caused Campbell to become a reviled figure among Tottenham fans.
The England defender had begun his senior career at the club and was appointed captain in 1997, though enjoyed far more success having moved across north London.
Campbell was a key part of two Premier League title-winning Arsenal sides, including the “Invincibles” of 2003-04.
The rancour caused by his exit has not dimmed, with Tottenham fans still regularly chanting about his switch, something that perplexes the 50-year-old.
“They know not what they do,” said Campbell in an interview with AFTV. “You [Spurs] have got a new stadium, new training ground, everything’s amazing going forward and you’re still harping on about me. It’s like, what’s going on here?
“Is it a colour thing, is it a colour thing? Is there a colour thing about it? Is there an underbelly colour thing that keeps you going?
“Because a lot of other players have done this type of move, similar moves. You say to yourself, ‘is it a colour thing? Or is it a confusion?’
“If it’s a black person or Indian person saying it, are you confused? Or is it a white guy saying it?
“What’s going on, what’s hanging on and allowing you to keep going for something that happened 25 years ago when I was a young man?”
Campbell, who graduated through the youth system at Spurs, also won two FA Cups and scored in the Champions League final after joining Arsenal.
Arsenal beat Ange Postecoglou’s side in the north London derby on Wednesday night to revive their Premier League campaign after a difficult recent run.
