EVERTON FC star Victor Anichebe was at the centre of a police racism storm last night, after suggesting he was detained by officers because of the colour of his skin.

The Nigerian international hit out at Cheshire police after he and a friend were stopped near his apartment in Knutsford.

Officers were called by CCTV operatives who spotted two men “acting suspiciously” outside PR Jones's jeweller's on Wednesday.

Police apologised last night after the injured striker claimed an officer tried to grab his crutch, put his friend in handcuffs and accused him of attempted robbery.

Last night, Anichebe, thought to earn £15,000-a-week, said: “Both myself and my friend, Lee, were accused, by Cheshire police officers, of ‘attempted theft’.

“Sadly, even when I explained who I was and what I was doing, they continued to treat both of us as not just suspects but as criminals.

“It was not only totally ridiculous but also highly embarrassing and totally humiliating.

“Simply because we stood our ground and insisted that we had done absolutely nothing wrong, they decided to place my friend in handcuffs.

“I am currently having to use crutches to walk as I recently underwent surgery and – astonishingly – one of the officers even tried to grab the crutches in order to prevent me from ‘escaping’.

“At the time, I asked the officers if they would have taken the action they did, had I been white rather than black.

“Whilst I do not wish to turn this unfortunate and unnecessary incident into a race issue, I believe it is a question which does need to be asked.”