BREWSTER DISTRAUGHT AS UEFA DISMISS RACISM CASE
LIVERPOOL have challenged football’s authorities to step up their attempts to tackle discrimination after Rhian Brewster was left despondent by the outcome of a UEFA investigation. The young striker, who played a starring role in the World Cup triumph of England’s Under 17s last October, was involved in a furious confrontation with Spartak Moscow’s Leonid Mironov during a UEFA Youth League game in December. Brewster alleged that Mironov racially abused him and reported the incident to UEFA’s delegates at the game, which was staged at Tranmere. He gave an interview later that month and claimed Mironov had, among other things, called him a “n*****”. UEFA opened proceedings but after speaking to five players from both teams, along with the match official, they deemed that no further action could be taken due to insufficient evidence. They did recognise the allegation had been made ‘in good faith’. The news is understood to have left Brewster and his family deflated. He is waiting to discover whether a FIFA investigation into claims he and other England players were racially abused in the Under 17 World Cup against Spain will go any further. It has been a hugely testing period for the 17-year-old, who will miss the rest of the season with knee and ankle problems. A Liverpool spokesperson said: ‘In keeping with Rhian’s stance, the club encourages football’s governing bodies to facilitate the most robust processes possible to identify and tackle discrimination in the game.’ A statement from equality campaigners Kick It Out said: ‘The organisation is deeply disappointed with the findings of the investigation. It is likely to give further encouragement to those who wish to be abusive.’