Chelsea’s Tiemoue Bakayoko was mistakenly held at gunpoint on a police car

Tiemoue Bakayoko, the Serie A winner, was stopped at gunpoint by police in Italy, in a terrifying ordeal that turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

The departing Chelsea midfielder was reportedly pulled over by cops in Milan while on loan at AC Milan last season.

Tancredi Palmeri, a journalist for Sport Italia, retweeted a video of the terrifying incident. A police officer pushed the startled footballer, who played 14 Serie A games for the victorious Rossoneri last season, up against a police car.

Shocking footage of Milan’s Bakayoko in Milan’s downtown held at gunpoint by police cause taken for someone else.

Check when one of cop goes telling to the colleague searching him that it’s not the suspect but a Milan player, and the cop saying “WHO?!?”
pic.twitter.com/B0PTYiXnc5

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) July 18, 2022

Two additional officers point their guns at the player’s car as another one empties Bakayoko’s pockets and throw the contents onto the police car’s roof.

One female cop keeps her gun trained on another vehicle occupant.

However, it appears that the police gradually realize they have the wrong person, and they quickly holster their weapons and console the midfielder with a gentle pat on the back.

The incident sparked outrage, with the Italian police force accusing Bakayoko of racism, but the Milan Police Headquarters claim it was a case of mistaken identity.

When responding to claims of racism leveled against them and explaining the actions of those present, they said in a statement released through ANSA, “These comments are out of place.”

“The check was triggered because Bakayoko and the other passenger corresponded perfectly, by chance, to the descriptions [of people wanted by the police], and of course it ended when it was realised that he [the police officer] had stopped a person who had nothing to do with it.”

Bakayoko, 27, joined Chelsea in the summer of 2017 in a landmark £40 million deal from Monaco, making 43 first-team appearances and helping the club win the FA Cup that season.

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