A video of Chelsea fans racially abusing footballer Mohamed Salah before their clash on Sunday has been condemned by his club as “unadulterated bigotry”.
Liverpool FC has alerted the police and is working with Chelsea to catch those responsible.
The footage shows six Chelsea fans in Prague, before their Europa League game with Slavia Prague, singing a derogatory chant.
Chelsea has vowed to ban those responsible and three men were denied entry to the Europa clash on Thursday.
The club described the incident as “abhorrent”.
Liverpool is due to meet Chelsea, Salah’s former side, at home on Sunday.
“The video circulating online, showing vile discriminatory chants being aimed at one of our players, is dangerous and disturbing," the club said.
“Already this season we have seen repulsive discriminatory abuse inside stadiums in England, Europe and across the world; abuse that was captured on devices and put into the public domain.
"We have also witnessed hateful attacks on social media. This behaviour needs to be called out for what it is – unadulterated bigotry.
“Liverpool Football Club believes it is the responsibility of those in positions of authority, following proper process, to act urgently to identify and then punish anyone committing a hate crime.
“There is no place for this behaviour in football, there is no place for it in society.”
Campaign group Kick It Out said on Twitter: “It’s not on the terraces but it’s still a disgrace.
“We don’t want fans like that anywhere near our game. We will be liaising with @ChelseaFC to ensure those involved are identified and punished swiftly and effectively.”
The controversy comes after players in England’s Euro 2020 qualifying match last month were subjected to racist abuse from the Montenegro crowd.
