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06th Dec 2017

Liverpool to report alleged racist abuse of striker during youth game

The incident took place towards the end of Liverpool's youth game with Spartak Moscow

Simon Lloyd

Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster has alleged he was racially abused by an opponent during the Uefa Youth League game against Spartak Moscow on Wednesday afternoon.

Brewster, an England Under 17 international, was visibly angry and had to be restrained by teammates and coaching staff towards the end of Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over the Russian team at Prenton Park. Having informed the match referee of the incident, the details were passed on to the fourth official. Liverpool will now reportedly lodge a complaint with Uefa.

Liverpool’s Under 19 coach Steven Gerrard was one of those to calm Brewster down after the incident, and later added that the club would be looking at what had happened.

“It’s difficult for me to comment on it right now,” he’s quoted as saying in the Liverpool Echo. “It’s something that the club will look into and deal with.

“I’d rather talk about Rhian Brewster’s performance,” Gerrard added. “I don’t want to take any gloss off that because he was superb. The only thing that was missing from his performance was a goal. He held the ball up so well and put in a shift for us.”

In September, Liverpool also acted against the Russian club after Bobby Adekanye, one of Brewster’s teammates, was racially abused by fans during the corresponding fixture in Moscow. Spartak were later found guilty and ordered to partially close their academy ground for their next Uefa Youth League match, leaving 500 seats empty.