Police are investigating allegations a Birmingham City participant was racially abused by a fan throughout Saturday’s derby in opposition to West Brom.
The house membership has confirmed it’s supporting West Midlands Police after Juninho Bacuna reported the matter to the referee through the second half of the Sky Bet Championship encounter at The Hawthorns.
It was one in every of two such incidents on the identical day within the English Football League as AFC Wimbledon supervisor Johnnie Jackson revealed his participant Omar Bugiel had reported being racially abused at Bradford.
An announcement from West Brom learn: “West Bromwich Albion can confirm Birmingham City player Juninho Bacuna reported an incident of racism to referee David Webb during the second half of today’s game.
“Albion will provide its full help to West Midlands Police of their legal investigation of this matter. The membership may even stay involved with Birmingham City to make sure Juninho Bacuna receives the help he requires presently.
“The club takes a strong stance against all forms of discrimination and will do all it can to ensure anyone found guilty of racism faces the toughest available legal punishment, in addition to a lifetime ban from The Hawthorns.”
The incident comes every week after West Brom’s FA Cup tie in opposition to one other native rival in Wolves was marred by crowd violence.
Birmingham mentioned in an announcement Bacuna’s criticism might be “included in the official’s match report and the club will assist the FA, the EFL and the authorities accordingly”.
“Birmingham City thanks the West Brom stewards, security and executive team who acted immediately and the issue is now with West Midlands Police.”
Play was briefly held up late in Wimbledon’s League Two assembly with Bradford at Valley Parade as Lebanon striker Bugiel reported being the sufferer of alleged racist abuse from somebody within the crowd.
Jackson mentioned: “I think there was some racist abuse towards Omar Bugiel. He’s gone in with the referee to report it.”
It comes simply weeks after Coventry City’s Kasey Palmer and AC Milan’s Mike Maignan reporting racism throughout Championship and Serie A video games on 21 January.
Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi not too long ago instructed Sky News that he would confront racist followers head to head.
And FIFA president Gianni Infantino known as for golf equipment whose followers dedicated racial abuse to forfeit video games as punishment.
Source: information.sky.com”