Calls for action as Mido targeted again

HANDS OFF: Recent photo of Egyptian national Mido (r) who has played in the English Premiership since 2005. (Getty Images)

The English Football Association has called for fans who direct "terrorist" taunts at Middlesbrough striker Mido to be banned following the abuse suffered by the Egyptian international during Saturday's match against local rivals Newcastle.

English football's governing body said it hoped the individuals perpetrating the abuse could be identified, but stopped short of threatening Newcastle with sanctions for failing to control their travelling fans.

"Our position on these matters always is that any individuals who are identified and found guilty of discriminatory chanting, we will be calling for them to be banned," said a spokesman.

"The responsibility lies with the police and the clubs to identify individuals responsible. We'll be liaising with them to make sure that happens."

Mido - short for Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhamid - suffered similar abuse during the same fixture last season but no action was taken because police were unable to identify the culprits.

Piara Powar, the director of Kick it Out, a campaign group which seeks to eradicate racism from English football, called for tougher action this time.

"This is the second consecutive season that we've seen Newcastle supporters directing Islamophobic abuse at Mido," Powar said. "This time both the FA and the police should act.

"It's time a message went out loud and clear to Newcastle fans that calling a Muslim a terrorist, a shoe bomber, or whatever else they think is funny this week, is against the law and can have serious implications for them personally and the club they support."

Middlesbrough coach Gareth Southgate condemned the fans involved in abusing Mido but said he would not support Newcastle being punished for their conduct.

"They can't do anything about their travelling fans," he said.

"It's individual decisions to sing what they want. How can a club the size of Newcastle control individuals?"

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