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CHRIS HUGHTON believes racism will not be eradicated from the game until black and Asian figures are at the summit of English football. Hughton’s Brighton face Chelsea tomorrow and the Blues suspended four fans last week after Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling was abused during their 2-0 win. The police are investigating allegations of racial abuse and UEFA are aware of reports of anti-semitic chanting by Chelsea fans – condemned by the club – at Thursday’s Europa League game against MOL Vidi in Hungary. Hughton, the Premier League’s only BAME manager, said: “Unfortunately there are always going to be racial incidents in our game, which we are trying as hard as we can to try and eradicate. You hope it is something that does not escalate, but sometimes when times are hard they become Hazard to score first and Chelsea to win 3-0 more prevalent. Racism holds no place in our game, in our society.”

In the week FA chief executive Martin Glenn announced he was leaving at the end of the season, Hughton added: “What I have always talked about is inclusion in our game – and inclusion means management at the top level, at board level and if I am looking at the FA and Premier League – it is that type of inclusion.

“I have spoken on many occasions of a lack of black managers at the highest level.

“What would be good for our game is total inclusion. That is what everybody wants to see.

“Clubs are doing all they can and credit to them. If there are incidents anywhere, the clubs are very quickly on to it, banning supporters deemed to have made racial comments. They are very much on top of what they see.

“But it’s making sure that if we are talking about eradicating something from our game or society, it’s about a culture and making sure we are in a position where people are respectful of all colours and creeds.”

Hughton, whose side’s defeat at Burnley last week was their first in four games, believes Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (left) is probably the best player in the Premier League at the moment.

He added; “If he is not, then he is very close to it. There is no denying he is world class.”