UEFA poised as McCarthy alleges racist abuse

LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) UEFA is set to look into allegations that Blackburn Rovers's South African striker Benni McCarthy was racially abused in his side's UEFA Cup win at Wisla Krakow yesterday.

Speaking in the wake of their 2-1 Group E victory in Poland, Rovers manager Mark Hughes said: "Benni was upset because a number of comments were made to him during the game.

"The comments were of a racist nature. We will speak to UEFA and make it clear to them who we think was involved. It's unfortunate something like this will tend to overshadow a great performance." UEFA spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Five Live radio today: "The problem is always of finding hard evidence...but we take these matters very seriously.

"Benni McCarthy has been in the game a long time, playing at the top level, Champions League, so we have no reason to doubt his word." Gaillard said it was too soon to have received the referee and the match delegate's reports. Though dismayed about the latest allegations of racist behaviour, he welcomed McCarthy's move.

"It's very courageous on Benni McCarthy's part to denounce the alleged abuse," he said.

"We've had problems in the past in getting players to accept to bear witness on such issues and we think it is progress when players begin to react and complain about the treatment they are given." The Football Association have made it clear they would support the Premier League club in any approach to UEFA.

An FA spokesman said on toay: "If Blackburn want to us to help them, we will give them any assistance they require." Reuters AY DS1440