FOOTBALL Association chiefs have launched a race probe at Shirebrook Town after Redditch United made a formal complaint to Soho Square last week.

Reds chairman Pat Cremin was left fuming after three United players - skipper Mark Taylor, Martin Myers and Nav Arshad - were apparently racially abused by a large section of the Town crowd during the FA Cup defeat in Mansfield on October 1.

Cremin has called for the FA to stamp their authority on Town and force them to "clean up their act" - as revealed in The Advertiser last week.

And on Monday, FA spokesman Alex Stone confirmed that an investigation had now been officially launched after they received United's letter outlining what went on during what was an ugly night in Nottinghamshire.

"We now want to speak to Shirebrook Town and that means from the chairman down to the club stewards," revealed Stone. "We want to collect more evidence of what when on and collaborate the complaint, if you like.

"But I can't comment on this particular incident in detail until we've managed to do that and I also can't put a timescale on when the investigation will be completed.

"But in these situations, we tend to take into account the club's previous record before looking at whether we will fine them. There are many issues involved and, of course, we have to be highly sensitive when dealing with such matters."

Shirebrook have since been knocked out of the competition after their penalty shoot-out victory over Redditch.

Aptly, the FA-supported Anti-racism in Football campaign kicks off tomorrow when the aim will be to shame and educate fans who racially abuse players.

"Kicking out racism in football is something that we are heavily committed to and vigorously support throughout the country," added Stone. "We also want to give the problem equal attention at grass roots football right through to the highest level."