Police are investigating alleged racist remarks that have appeared on an Internet site linked to Oxford United, writes chris Koenig.

The website, accessible until recently via Oxford United's website, referred to gipsies in a derogatory way.

Les Wells, Oxfordshire spokesman for the gipsy community which has a property next to the club's unfinished stadium, said: "The remarks were very inflammatory and likely to incite violence.

"No-one would put up with such things being said about other minority groups, so why should they be said about gipsies?" Adrian Harper-Smith, director of the Oxfordshire Racial Equality Council, said: "Oxford United took immediate action when I told them of this website. They removed access to the site. The police have been informed.

"Now United say they will scrutinise web links very carefully."

The club's secretary Mick Brown wrote to the Racial Equality Council, and also sent a copy of the letter to Pc Paul Phillips, football liaison officer for Thames Valley Police.

Mr Brown wrote: "We deplore any racist remarks and have taken immediate action in removing the hotkey access to this particular site." He added: "We are keen to actively continue supporting the Kick Racism out of Football campaign and have assisted the police in prosecuting several individuals who have made racist comments at matches recently."

Story date: Monday 20 December

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