Get the latest Cardiff City news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A Cardiff City fans' leader has hit out at Reading's handling of the racism issue which marred the FA Cup draw at the Madejski Stadium, dubbing their actions 'a slur' on the Bluebirds.

Vince Alm, who helps run travel for the official Cardiff City Supporters Club, has described Reading's decision to issue a public address announcement to 2,000 Bluebirds fans as 'very disappointing.'

And he pointed out the Bluebirds have no recent history of the racism or homophobia claims that were thrown the way of visiting supporters during the 1-1 cup draw.

Cardiff, of course, has always been one of the most cosmopolitan, inclusive and tolerant cities in the UK and the claims from a Reading steward have come as a genuine shock.

The Bluebirds and Reading are each investigating two incidents of alleged racist and homophobic abuse, with the Royals confirming after the game a match-day steward had reported two separate accounts of alleged 'discriminatory' abuse.

What these chants were exactly, we are as yet unaware, but Reading changed their terminology to 'discriminatory', rather than the claims that were made by the PA announcer during the first half which annoyed so many Cardiff fans.

Bluebirds followers bring brilliant backing to their team, home and away, and Alm believes what happened was handled poorly by the home club.

In a post on social media, he wrote: "As most of you know, I go to every Cardiff game home and away.

"I've been supporting the City since 1968 and since the 1980s I can count on one hand racism slurs I've heard, the last one being West Ham away 2004.

"Cardiff has been a cosmopolitan area since the 1950s with many different cultures integrated into the city with no issue.

"Homophobic chanting is very rare and I cannot recall the last time I heard Cardiff fans sing about it.

"However, what I do hear week in week out is nonsensical chanting anti-English and anti-Welsh back and forth. Personally I believe it does nothing to support the team but racial, homophobic chanting it isn't.

"Despite the two sets of fans singing anti English anti-Welsh songs today, and shouting abuse at each other across the segregation line, Reading FC chose to accuse Cardiff City supporters of racism and homophobic insults by making an announcement aimed just at Cardiff City fans after two stewards made a complaint about anti-English chanting.

"This is a slur on a football club which has NO recent history of racism or homophobia.

"The stewards have been interviewed by the police and I believe there will be no arrests and no investigation."

He concluded: "Very disappointing."

Cardiff fans watching on TV during the afternoon were also shocked when BBC reporter Jacqui Oatley said on Final Score she had been told by a Reading official the complaints were not about anti-English chanting.

As Alm points out, songs about England - and Wales in reverse from opposition fans - have been chanted for time immemorial at Bluebirds matches are aren't believed to have caused offence previously.

One of the more recent ones is a mickey take of Gareth Southgate's England side from the World Cup with an ironic 'Football's Coming Home' chant ringing up at every Cardiff away game.

Cardiff City said in a statement: "We will be speaking with Reading Football Club, Thames Valley Police and South Wales Police (in attendance with our travelling support) to ascertain the facts of the matter.

"We will conduct these conversations with the relevant authorities before making any further comment."