Stoke investigate after Kenwyne Jones finds pig's head in locker
• Glenn Whelan reportedly responsible for incident
• Jones's partner complains of 'Big men acting like kids'
• Glenn Whelan reportedly responsible for incident
• Jones's partner complains of 'Big men acting like kids'
Email- Jamie Jackson
- The Guardian, Friday 17 May 2013 16.46 BST
The pig's head that was put in the locker of Stoke City's Kenwyne Jones as a prank, in a picture posted by Brek Shea. Photograph: Instagram
Kenwyne Jones allegedly smashed up the car of a team-mate believed to be Glenn Whelan after the Stoke City striker found "a bloody pig's head" wrapped in his clothes, which he believed the midfielder had placed there, according to tweets by Jones's girlfriend on Friday afternoon.
With the club launching an investigation into what occurred at the training ground, Kissa Abdullah wrote a series of tweets criticising the act stating it was "not even close to funny". Jones is a Rastafarian so does not eat pork.
Following the incident, the Stoke midfielder Brek Shea tweeted a photo of the pig's head and wrote: "Locker room banter gone wild!!!" The club confirmed they are investigating what occurred.
A statement said: "The club takes seriously reports of an incident at our training ground this afternoon. A full internal investigation will be carried out and those responsible for any unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with the club's disciplinary procedures."
Earlier Abdullah revealed what had happened, writing on Twitter: "Big men acting like kids a pigs head is not a prank its just disgusting!!!!! Wtf??? I don't get how was that sup 2 be funny!!!! Really???"
Then she wrote: "me as well I really don't get it at least do a fake one not straight from the butchers! Anyone would be pissed! … they put a huge bloody pigs head in his clothes at training! He warned them 2 keep him out of the banter or else! u kno the rest."
Regarding Jones's and her beliefs, Abdullah tweeted: "Listen 4 all those who don't get it lay the f! back! Where I come from that's not anywhere close 2 funny! Esp not knowing religious beliefs."
Another said: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions mine is I don't agree wrapping a pigs head in his clothes!" She also retweeted another tweet that stated: "do you know what a pigs head represents in a Muslim religion ??" with an earlier tweet written by Abdullah, saying: "It just takes a minute to be sensitive to someone's beliefs no one says u can't have a sense of humour but let it be a joke! This wasn't!"
She also conceded that Jones's smashing up of Whelan's car was not the best way to have reacted. "you know wat agreed but everyone reacts differently !" Abdullah wrote.
Last Sunday, before Stoke played Tottenham Hotspur in their last home match, Michael Owen, who is retiring after the final game of the season, had his car covered with flour and eggs. He tweeted a photo of his car and wrote: "This is what I will miss once I hang up my boots! Looks like I may be delayed getting to the match." He then identified the suspects: "It's a long week lads. Revenge is in the air! Chief suspects: Whitehead and Whelan. Huth is a possible too."
Jones also retweeted the photo of Owen's car and wrote: "Michael Owen's leaving present."
