Lancashire Police have launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Birmingham's Dwight Yorke was racially abused during yesterday's Barclays Premiership game at Blackburn.
Former Rovers player Yorke, a substitute for the game at Ewood Park, confronted a fan he claimed was taunting him as he warmed up along the touchline.
The incident came just four days after several England players were racially abused during a friendly international against Spain in Madrid.
One fan was ejected from the ground and after consultation with the club, the police have now started criminal proceedings.
Blackburn released a club statement saying: "After hearing reports from the club's safety officers and studying available CCTV and video footage of an incident involving a spectator and the Birmingham City player, Dwight Yorke, Lancashire Constabulary has now launched a criminal investigation.
"It goes without saying that we will give the police - who now intend to interview all relevant parties - our full co-operation during the length of that investigation.
"We cannot elaborate on the matter as it may prove to be prejudicial, but we would like to stress that this was an isolated incident and that we deeply regret any embarrassment caused to Dwight Yorke and Birmingham City Football Club.
"Over the years, the club has worked tirelessly to eliminate racism, working in close conjunction with organisations like Kick It Out, and we want to be quite clear that racism will not be tolerated at Ewood Park.
"We have kept the Premier League, the Football Association, the Professional Footballers Association and Birmingham City fully aware of progress and the general ongoing situation."
FA investigation
The Football Association launched an investigation into the latest alleged racist incident to rock their game, involving Birmingham striker Dwight Yorke.
The Trinidad and Tobago international had to suffer reported 'monkey' taunts from two fans when warming up during the second half of his team's Barclays Premiership clash with his former club Blackburn at Ewood Park yesterday.
One spectator was ejected from the ground in an incident which echoed the sickening behaviour of Spanish fans towards England's black players during last week's friendly international in Madrid.
The matter is also being investigated by the Football Association, who were last week strong in their condemnation of what happened in Spain.
FA head of media relations Adrian Bevington confirmed: "Our position at present is that we are still establishing the facts and we hope to speak to all interested parties today."
Birmingham managing director Karren Brady has expressed her disgust that racism has once again reared its ugly head in English football.
Brady, whose club helped collaborate a dossier to help with inquiries, said: "It is very sad for football. None of us want to see it. We all want to stamp on this and get it out of our game once and for all.
"We've just got to wait and see what this investigation throws up."
Remarkably, Birmingham City plc chairman David Sullivan played down the matter, claiming "it is not the crime of the century".
Making it clear his view is a personal one, and not necessarily that of the club, he told Sky Sports News: "To me, it's all been blown out of all proportion.
"I heard absolutely nothing. If it's three out of 22,000 who make racist comments then it's not very nice.
"I think you have to pick up on it and ban those people from the ground but I just can't believe, with all that is going on in the world, that it's that big a deal.
"If someone had made a racist comment to me and it was three out of 22,000, I would say it's not very nice, I wish they hadn't made it, but it's not the crime of the century.
"It was only when he was warming up. He could have run up the other end of the ground."
Sports minister Richard Caborn, meanwhile, has called for a zero-tolerance approach to racism in football.
Caborn believes a firm stance needs to be taken against racists as he said: "This seems to be an isolated incident, but it is still unacceptable behaviour.
"We need to strengthen peer-group power so that people can report these incidents to stewards or police and be confident that their complaint will be dealt with.
"Of course, this was nothing like the events that went on in Madrid last week - but racism should not be tolerated in any form."
The Football Association and the Premier League today issued a joint statement about the incident at Blackburn.
The statement read: "The FA and the Premier League today welcomed the swift action taken by Blackburn Rovers in launching an investigation into a reported instance of racist abuse aimed at Birmingham City's Dwight Yorke at Ewood Park yesterday.
"We fully support Blackburn Rovers' entirely appropriate reaction to this incident and their involvement of the Lancashire Police who will ensure that this matter is dealt with as the law demands.
"The FA, the Premier League and The Football League condemn racism in all its forms and are committed to stamping out any form of racist behaviour from football through our work with Kick It Out and numerous local campaigns.
However, this isolated incident is a reminder of the need for continued vigilance.
"The Report Racism hotline has been set up to allow anyone involved in football to report incidents of racism to The FA.
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