Mido blames FA for Islamophobic abuse

Middlesbrough striker Mido has blamed the Football Association for the Islamophobic chanting which has been directed at him for the second year in a row while playing against Newcastle.

The Egyptian was the target of abuse last weekend and he believes the FA's lack of action when it happened last year contributed to a repeat this season.

“They kept chanting disgusting words, racist words about Islam and unfortunately, this is the second time that the same fans have done this,” Mido told Egyptian television station Al Hayat.

“It happened again because after the first time the English FA did nothing. I considered this as an invitation from the English FA to the Newcastle supporters to repeat such shameful acts.

“I can assure you that nothing is going to happen this time again. The English FA said that they will be investigating the issue and will make use of the latest technology to stop such racist abuse of players but I feel that nothing will happen.

“I am asking the English FA to take serious action to stop such things. These chants are not directed at me as a person but it is directed at Islam.”

The FA said it could only ask police and the club involved to act if the perpatrators could be identified.

“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 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 earlier this week. “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.”