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Dartford goalkeeper Jason Brown describes how he was racially abused during Tuesday's game at Bristol Rovers

16:00, 08 October 2014

Dartford keeper Jason Brown has spoken out about the racial abuse he was subjected to at Bristol Rovers.

Brown was taunted by a supporter behind the goal at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.

He said: "It was late in the second half. I was having a bit of banter with the supporters, having a laugh, and it was all in jest. Then I heard some guy racially abusing me and I thought ‘that’s not right’.

"Play stopped, there was a foul in the corner of the pitch and I went over to the linesman and said ‘I’ve been racially abused by a supporter behind the goal.’ He said ‘OK, I’ll put it in my report.’

"But the abuse carried on for 10 minutes and when I turned round, I could see the steward standing right next to the guy. I knew who it was and I thought ‘that’s not right’.

Jason Brown Picture: Keith Gillard
Jason Brown Picture: Keith Gillard

"I stopped the game and I said to the ref ‘that guy right there is racially abusing me’. The ref said ‘OK, I’ll put it in my report’ but I said ‘no, I want you to do something about it right now.'

"I was looking at this guy, eye-to-eye, and the steward was standing there, doing nothing. I said ‘I want something done about it because this is a joke’.

"There’s a protocol they’re supposed to follow. The’re supposed to stop the game, let the fourth official know, and the fourth official lets the head steward know and they go and apprehend the guy. But he either walked out by himself or he was escorted out.

"Racial abuse is a criminal offence and they should have handed him over to the police.

"When I was hearing the racial abuse, I tried to stay focused, I tried to stay professional, but it got to a point where I thought ‘I’m not putting up with this any more’ so I stopped the game.

"I feel let down because the protocol was not followed."

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