Man arrested over alleged racial abuse of Demba Ba

Demba Ba (right) and Chelsea are in third place in the Premier League.

Matt Dunham/AP

GATESHEAD, England (AP) -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Chelsea striker Demba Ba on Facebook.

Police in the northeast of England said Wednesday that the unnamed 39-year-old man was detained on suspicion of posting the offensive remarks earlier this month.

Ba, a Senegal international, is due to return to Newcastle on Saturday for the first time since leaving at the start of the month to join Premier League rival Chelsea.

The man arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment has been released on bail.

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