Stan Collymore suggests punishments as racism rears head in Premier League stands again

Stan Collymore has called for more stringent punishments for those found guilty of racism at football matches after separate incidents occurred at Premier League fixtures over the weekend.

Brentford stars Rico Henry and Ivan Toney alleged that their families had been racially abused at Goodison Park, where their side beat Everton 3-2. While two Burnley fans were arrested after they were captured on camera making Nazi salutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mirror Sport columnist Collymore said: “The incidents prove once again that putting black squares on Instagram, taking a knee, No Room For Racism campaigns and the like are all just lip service and aren’t doing anything.

“I’m sure there are plenty of well-meaning people at the Premier League and FA who think, ‘If there are only two or three examples of racism, down from whatever it was in the past, then that is a positive, isn’t it?’ But from what I see and hear around grounds, and what I read on social media, nothing has massively changed.

“And until we do and say things that tally with the seriousness of a racist incident then we are going to get nowhere. I’ve been to Goodison more times than most grounds and I always get the warmest welcome. I like to be visible at matches and Evertonians have always treated me well, and I’ve always had a fondness for their club.

“But if we are serious about tackling things, then we have to say that the perpetrators from Burnley and Everton should be handed life bans from football if they are found guilty, and if we say we draw the line at throwing people in jail for a few weeks for such offences because that’s too harsh, then let’s fine them proper money, say, £2,000, or maybe even £5,000, whatever.

“As long as it’s a sum