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21st October 2006

Complaint to UEFA over racist abuse to Blackburn player

UEFA has been asked by the Football Association to investigate allegations of racism made by Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy. The 28-year-old South African claimed he had been abused by Wisla Krakow's Serbian defender Nikola Mijailovic in last night's UEFA Cup match.

Blackburn have called for strong action to be taken, and the FA confirmed: "We have written to UEFA, asking them to investigate allegations of racism made against Benni McCarthy by Nikola Mijailovic."

Blackburn confirmed that a statement from McCarthy and another player who witnessed the alleged abuse had been forwarded to UEFA and the FA.

The club are backing striker McCarthy to the hilt and manager Mark Hughes said: "The issue regarding Benni overshadowed our performance - but we must try to take this kind of thing out of football.

"If you ignore it and accept it, it will continue to be in the game. We have done great work in this country with the 'Kick It Out' campaign. There is no place for abuse like this in sport or in life. There is banter and sledging but this was a lot stronger than that. It is important to make a stand, not just from the game's point of view but the relationship with our players. Benni feels very strongly about the situation as we do as club."

Hughes said that the South African international approached Swedish referee Stefan Johannesson at half-time - but still the taunts continued.

The Blackburn boss continued: "I think people can make up their own mind as to what these comments were - and they will probably be correct.

"Benni, to his credit, did not react to them. He highlighted the issue to a number of Krakow players and the referee at half time. The situation still developed and there were more comments at the end of the game."

Source: Scotland on Sunday