A RACISM probe has been launched at a football club after claims a player was abused during a rival clash on Easter Monday.

Billericay Town has launched an investigation following the incident during a match against Chelmsford City.

It has been claimed that a Chelmsford City midfielder was racially abused during the game by a supporter.

A statement released by the Billericay football club said: "The club are aware of allegations of racial abuse during yesterday’s match with Chelmsford City FC.

"Abuse, of any kind, will not be tolerated and we will be fully co-operating with the FA to investigate this matter.”

The Billericay Town Supporters Society added: “We are saddened to hear of an allegation of a racist comment made during the Chelmsford City game yesterday.

“The BTSS totally condemns any form of racist behaviour in the strongest possible terms.

“We will assist Billericay Town FC and the relevant authorities with any investigations as required.

“If a member of our society is proven to have made a racist comment, they will also be subject to the disciplinary procedures detailed in our constitution.”

Billericay lost the match 2-1, which leaves the club bottom of the Vanarama National League South.

The club’s manager, Jody Brown, was also sacked following the defeat.

During a post-match interview with ClaretsTV, Chelmsford City manager, Robbie Simpson said: “The abuse that Dara (Dada) got, we can’t ignore that, and we have to speak about it, as there is no place for it at all.

“Our physio heard it as well as Dara, and there really is no place for that in society, let alone on a football pitch, when someone is at work essentially.

“Really disappointed to hear that from a human perspective and the players lost concentration for that corner and who can blame them when something like that gets done to one of their teammates.”

On taking the allegations further, in a a post-match interview with BBC Essex Sport, Mr Simpson added: “I hope so, there is no place for it, if we just let it lie, it will keep happening.

“Regardless of the result, there is no place for that anywhere let alone a football pitch, it is pretty disgusting to be honest. There is a report gone in from the ref, and the police are with the ref now, there is just no place for it in society.”