Everton star’s stunning n **** r claim to referee

hoardings in front of the Main Stand.

The two players then squared up to each other – and it is then that Holgate claims he was racially abused.

Our investigation has revealed that Holgate complained to referee Bobby Madley and team-mates that Firmino had called him the ‘N-word’. But, while the six clips of the incident we used showed that the Brazilian had uttered a curse in his native Portuguese, according to the lip reader, no evidence of racial abuse was found.

Lip reader Tim Reedy said: “Firmino, in retaliation to the push, confronts Holgate, shouting some words at him, to which Holgate does not react.

“Holgate does not compute because Firmino is speaking in Portuguese. My findings are that Firmino did not use racist language.

“Instead, he says the words, ‘Es maluco, filho da puta?’, which translates as ‘Are you crazy, you son of a bitch?’. Then Holgate, upon speaking to the referee, thinks that racist language was used and tells the referee, ‘He called me a n **** r.’

“It also appears the referee has no idea what Firmino said. When pushed away by a team-mate, Holgate reiterates that he was called a n **** r.” Liverpool and Everton have promised to co-operate fully with the FA investigation, but both clubs are refusing to comment until the outcome of the investigation is known. And Firmino is facing a huge ban and fine if he is found to have used racist language.