Newcastle United striker Papiss Cissé was allegedly racially abused by an English Defence League group on Facebook.
Some of the group's members attacked the Senegalese for objecting to the club's shirt sponsorship deal with "legal loan sharks" Wonga. Under Sharia Law, Muslims are prevented from benefitting from borrowing money.
Cissé however took no apparent umbrage at donning Newcastle's kit when sponsored by Virgin Money last season, a bank which also makes money from loans.
Cissé was subjected to online racist abuse in April
The 28-year-old striker, who joined Newcastle in January 2012, was abused by the Newcastle English Defence League.
"We have been made aware of abusive comments made on Facebook,” Northumbria Chief Supt Dianne Winship told the Telegraph. "Northumbria Police take all reports of abuse very seriously and enquiries are being conducted."
The group has since posted news of the online slurs.
The group posted news of the police's investigation on Facebook
Cissé was also the victim of racist abuse, along with his girlfriend, in April.
It is believed the online messages - treated as a hate crime - were due to the couple's different ethnicities.