Racist abuse still happens in Premier League football matches... more must be done, says Nathaniel Chalobah

Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah says he has been the victim of racism on the pitch and has called for the authorities to do more to tackle the issue.

The claim comes in the light of abuse hurled at Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Manchester City winger told police he was racially abused by a section of the crowd and Chelsea have suspended four people, pending further investigations.

It was the second incident of alleged racism in the Premier League this month, after a Tottenham fan threw a banana skin at Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he had scored in the derby.

England international Chalobah says the Sterling incident has highlighted that black players are still being targeted by racism and he wants more to be done to stop it.

“I have had it before,” said the 23-year-old following Watford’s 2-2 draw at Everton last night. “I would not say it is regular, like every game, but it does happen and it is happening. More has got to be done in terms of how things get dealt with.

“It is not right. We are just here to do our job, play football and put a show on for people who watch the games. It is not fair to leave the game being racially abused. Everyone can see that it is still in the game.

“Knowing Raheem personally, it is horrible, horrible he has had to go through that. It is just not right and needs to be kicked out. There are some very low people out there who want to say hurtful things and do not care who it upsets.”

Sterling has since accused the media of helping to “fuel racism” though their portrayal of young black players and Chalobah added: “I back Raheem all the way. The way the media portrays things is something to be looked at.”

Meanwhile, Gary Neville revealed last night that Sterling approached him during Euro 2016 about what he felt were “vicious” attacks on him by fans and the media at the time.

Neville was working as an England coach under Roy Hodgson when Sterling visited him and, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, the former Manchester United right-back said: “The abuse he received, particularly in the media beyond that tournament, I have not seen it before. He was getting absolutely battered. He was willing to stand up and play but he has been carrying this for years. He is a tough lad to come through everything he has.”