Police probe abuse of Portsmouth defender Campbell

LONDON (Reuters) - Police have opened an investigation into the abuse Sol Campbell was subjected to during Portsmouth's Premier League game with his old club Tottenham Hotspur, Hampshire Police said on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Campbell was the target of racial and homophobic chants by Spurs fans as the London club lost 2-0 at Portsmouth's Fratton Park stadium on Sunday.

"A complaint was received from a member of the public that will be investigated fully," a Hampshire Police spokesman said.

"The investigation is in its very early stages and we do not know what course it will take."

Campbell, a former England international defender who played for Tottenham for 10 years, has been unpopular with Spurs fans since he moved to north London rivals Arsenal seven years ago on a free transfer prior to his move to Portsmouth in 2006.

In February 2006 Spurs fans sang an offensive song about their former captain after he made headlines by disappearing for four days after a poor performance for Arsenal against West Ham.

That prompted Spurs to launch a campaign to stamp out homophobic chanting at their home matches.

(Reporting by John Joseph; Editing by Luke Baker)