LONDON/ZURICH: World federation FIFA has launched an investigation into England striker Rhian Brewster’s complaint that a team-mate was racially abused during the Under-17s World Cup.

Brewster says he has been racially abused five times during his career and that in the 5-2 final win over Spain a team-mate was targeted by an opponent.

FIFA has acknowledged receipt of a complaint from the Football Association and is now “analysing and gathering evidence”.

Last month, the 17-year-old Liverpool forward criticised football’s authorities in an interview with The Guardian, saying there needs to be “more severe punishments”.

The teenager says the incidents occurred against foreign teams while he was playing for both club and country, and that he has experienced racial abuse on the pitch since he was 12.

Regarding the incident against Spain, Brewster, who won the tournament’s golden boot, said: “They were telling us to win respectfully.

“I started laughing. I said: ‘How can you tell us to win respectfully when one of your players has been racist? What about your team-mate being respectful to us?'”

Livermore incident

The Football Association has been informed by West Bromwich Albion about an incident in their game against West Ham at the Olympic Stadium when a fan made a comment to West Bromwich Albion’s Jake Livermore about the death of his infant son.

The midfielder was involved in an angry exchange after he was substituted in the second half of his side’s 2-1 defeat. Livermore and his partner lost their newborn son Jake Junior in May 2014.

West Brom say they have offered their “total support” to the England international, 28, and have sent their observations to the Football Association.

West Ham have said they had identified the supporter involved. The man was spoken to by staff on Tuesday and removed from the stadium, the club said.

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