Hughes back McCarthy
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Mark Hughes insists the comments made to Blackburn's Benni McCarthy by a Wisla Krakow player were "a lot stronger" than mere sledging.
Rovers have confirmed on their website that a statement from McCarthy and another player who witnessed alleged racist abuse in Thursday's UEFA Cup tie in Poland has been forwarded to UEFA and the FA.
The club are backing striker McCarthy to the hilt, who was so incensed at the taunts he received he from Wisla defender Nikola Mijailovic that he squared up to the Serbian at the end of the 2-1 victory.
Hughes said: "The issue regarding Benni overshadowed our performance - but we must try and take this kind of thing out of football. It you ignore it and accept it, it will continue to be in the game.
"We have done great work in this country with the "Kick It Out" campaign. Maybe other countries are lagging behind us in that respect.
"There is no place for abuse like this in sport or in life. There is banter and sledging but this was a lot stronger than that."
Hughes is liaising with UEFA and the FA on the matter and urging strong action.
He said: "We hope they back us all the way. I spoke to Benni this morning as we are trying to build a statement to the FA, which we will produce at some point today.
"It is important to make a stand not just from the game's point of view but the relationship with our players.
"Obviously Benni feels very strongly about the situation as we do as a club."
Hughes said that the South African international approached Swedish referee Stefan Johannesson at half-time - but still the taunts continued.
The Blackburn boss continued: "Benni was upset by a number of personal comments directed at him by one of their players. It happened right throughout the game.
"I think people can make up their own mind as to what these comments were - and they will probably be correct.
"Benni to his credit did not react to them. He highlighted the issue to a number of Krakow players and the referee at half-time. "The situation still developed and there were more comments at the end of the game."
Rovers have confirmed on their website that a statement from McCarthy and another player who witnessed alleged racist abuse in Thursday's UEFA Cup tie in Poland has been forwarded to UEFA and the FA.
The club are backing striker McCarthy to the hilt, who was so incensed at the taunts he received he from Wisla defender Nikola Mijailovic that he squared up to the Serbian at the end of the 2-1 victory.
Hughes said: "The issue regarding Benni overshadowed our performance - but we must try and take this kind of thing out of football. It you ignore it and accept it, it will continue to be in the game.
"We have done great work in this country with the "Kick It Out" campaign. Maybe other countries are lagging behind us in that respect.
"There is no place for abuse like this in sport or in life. There is banter and sledging but this was a lot stronger than that."
Hughes is liaising with UEFA and the FA on the matter and urging strong action.
He said: "We hope they back us all the way. I spoke to Benni this morning as we are trying to build a statement to the FA, which we will produce at some point today.
"It is important to make a stand not just from the game's point of view but the relationship with our players.
"Obviously Benni feels very strongly about the situation as we do as a club."
Hughes said that the South African international approached Swedish referee Stefan Johannesson at half-time - but still the taunts continued.
The Blackburn boss continued: "Benni was upset by a number of personal comments directed at him by one of their players. It happened right throughout the game.
"I think people can make up their own mind as to what these comments were - and they will probably be correct.
"Benni to his credit did not react to them. He highlighted the issue to a number of Krakow players and the referee at half-time. "The situation still developed and there were more comments at the end of the game."
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