RACISM is widespread in English football with police having to deal with hundreds of incidents from the top of the game right down to grassroots level, new research revealed yesterday.

Chelsea supporters have been involved in the most number of reported racist incidents as they travelled to and from matches on trains.

It follows the high-profile case of a black man who a gang of Blues fans stopped from boarding a Paris Metro train as they belted out a racist chant. Five of the thugs are due in court this week.

Gathered from 24 police forces across the country, the data show that there have been over 350 incidents since 2012.

But the true scale is likely to be much higher as that only accounts for half of England’s constabularies.

Show Racism the Red Card said it showed that racism was a problem in wider society.

It was particularly shocked by the amount of racism at children’s matches.

The British Transport Police said that since 2012 it had dealt with 15 incidents of alleged racism involving Chelsea fans, the most of any club in the country.

Manchester United were second with 10 incidents, followed by Leeds with 10, West Ham with eight, Arsenal with four and Portsmouth with four.

Greater Manchester police reported 46 incidents, which included a man cleaning a toilet in a stadium being told: “That’s a fucking black man’s job, you fucking nigger,” and a manager at a children’s game being told: “I’ll do you, I’m gonna wait for you outside, I’m going to do you, you fucking nigger.”

The force also said that on two occasions a letter was written to a specific footballer containing racist abuse and during a game someone shouted: “What is this, the United Nations? How many chinks and wogs do you need?”

Hertfordshire Police recorded 11 incidents of alleged racist abuse at children’s football games, while Northamptonshire Police said that during a non-league game a man was spat at and racially abused before eventually having his leg broken in a strong challenge.

Show Racism the Red Card campaign co-ordinator Gavin Sutherland said: “Although football clubs have taken strong action against people using racist language inside stadiums, racism is a real problem within society.

“People who exhibit racist behaviours in 2015 are doing so, in the main, away from football grounds.

“Especially worrying are the incidents of racist abuse at youth team football matches. People engaged in racist abuse at these venues know that they are more likely to get away with it but the impact on young people will be considerable.

“Primarily, they are being exposed to racism, which in itself is frightening, but also it may influence their own behaviour.”

by Our Sports Desk