U.S. defender Onyewu sues over alleged racist slur

BRUSSELS (AP) -- U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu is suing an Anderlecht player over an alleged racial insult.

Onyewu, who plays for Standard Liege, says Anderlecht's Jelle Van Damme called him a "dirty monkey" during the Belgian league playoffs. Van Damme has denied the allegations.

Onyewu's lawyer, Jean-Louis Dupont, lodged a complaint with a Brussels court Tuesday. Onyewu completed five days of training in Miami on Sunday with the U.S. soccer team.

Onyewu says he is taking court action because racist abuse on the field is far too commonplace in European soccer. The incidents occurred during the playoff series between Standard Liege and Anderlecht to decide the Belgian league title last week.

Onyewu is preparing for the June 14-28 Confederations Cup in South Africa and two World Cup qualifiers.

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