Chris Hughton Calls Harsher Punishment For Racists After Bong Abuse

By Nigel Philips

Brighton manager, Chris Hughton, has called for stricter punishment for supporters who abuse footballers at the stadium.

Hughton said at a press conference on Friday it is about time authorities put in place measures to scare supporters from unleashing racist chants on players.

Brighton’s defender Gaetan Bong was on Wednesday described as a ‘smelly b***** by West Brom fans as he joined the FA Cup clash from substitutes' bench.

Bong was met with loud boos from West Brom fans, and chants of "there is only one smelly b******".

Hughton was furious with the West Brom fans for their behaviour towards the player, and said such persons deserved punishments ‘as hard as possible’ when caught.

"It's up to the game as a whole and the authorities to stamp what they can out as quick as possible and making sure the punishments are as hard as possible," said Hughton.

"I think there are sections of support that are not prepared to accept it and will recognise it and will report it. It's about making sure that whatever punishments and fines are given out to individuals are dealt with as quickly as possible."

"I think you have got to give the clubs credit and certainly with social media these days, it's being picked up far more and far quicker than it has in the past."

"I don't generally feel that we've gone from the game being in a far better place to things having got worse."

"There have always been incidences but of course what happens now particularly with social media is that there is now a far bigger platform for that to happen and perhaps we didn't have that before."