England's travelling supporters in the Caribbean had the perfect riposte for West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel after he aimed a homophobic slur at Joe Root during the third Test.

Gabriel reportedly called Root a 'b**** boy' in a confrontation with the England captain when he was batting on Monday.

The 30-year-old was later charged by the ICC with a breach of their code of conduct for the homophobic abuse.

He accepted the charge on Wednesday and was banned for the next four games - one day international matches against England.

As Gabriel came out to bat on Tuesday, the England fans - known as 'The Barmy Army' - sang 'YMCA' by The Village People.

England's Barmy Army sang gay anthems when Shannon Gabriel went out to bat on Tuesday

Gabriel has accepted a charge that he aimed a homophobic slur at England captain Root

Sky Sports footage of the incident showed Root telling Gabriel: 'Don't use that as an insult'

"Don't use it as an insult. There's nothing wrong with being gay."



Joe Root responds to sledging from Windies bowler Shannon Gabriel.



Full story: https://t.co/nRfSmWU5q6 pic.twitter.com/ghoDyGxUOi — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 12, 2019

The 1978 song is a gay anthem and The Barmy Army did not stop there in delivering their thoughts on the alleged incident.

They went on to sing a number of other songs associated with gay culture, such as 'It's Raining Men' by The Weather Girls, 'Gimme Gimme Gimme (a man after midnight) by Abba and 'A Little Respect' by Erasure.

The song choices were noted by a number of reporters on social media who were at the Test match.

The Barmy Army's song choice in the Caribbean did not go unnoticed on social media

The travelling England supporters sang a number of songs that are gay anthems

Root has earned widespread praise for responding to Gabriel by saying: 'Don't use that as an insult. There is nothing wrong with being gay.'

Pundits and fans quickly took to social media to praise his forward-thinking actions, with former England captain Nasser Hussain describing Root as a role model.

Hussain, also a Sportsmail columnist, said: 'I don't know who said what to whom... but boy do I applaud Joe Root's reaction here.

'For me his twelve words as a role model will be in the end more important than a Test hundred or possible victory.'

Former footballer and current BBC pundit Ian Wright said simply: 'Joe Root. Well played and well said sir.' Gary Lineker said Root's reply was the 'perfect response.'

Root himself has not publicly stated what Gabriel said to him and after the end of the third Test - which England won by 232 runs - he said he did not want to incident to overshadow the series.

Former footballer and pundit Ian Wright led the tributes to Root in the wake of the incident

Ex-England cricket captain Nasser Hussain was also quick to lay credit with Root

Gary Lineker said that Root's response to the West Indies fast bowler was 'perfect'

West Indies fast bowler Gabriel was involved in a verbal exchange with Root on day three

Root shakes hands with Gabriel at the end of the third Test against West Indies

Root said: 'The ICC have got to handle things and I am not in a position to comment but throughout the series it has been played in the right manner between the two sides.

'West Indies have played some fantastic cricket, they are a good bunch of guys and it would be a shame if it tarnishes what has been a good, hard-fought series.

'As a player you feel you have responsibilities to uphold on the field and I stand by what I did. I just did what I thought was right.'

Announcing the ban, the ICC said in a statement: 'Windies player Shannon Gabriel has been suspended for the first four One Day Internationals of an upcoming five-match series against England.

'Gabriel's accumulated demerit points reached eight within a 24-month period following his latest breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, for which he received a 75 per cent fine and three demerit points.

'During the third day of the St Lucia Test against England on Monday, Gabriel was found guilty of breaching article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “personal abuse of a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire or Match Referee during an international match”, following an incident with England Captain Joe Root.

'Gabriel admitted the offence after the end of the match on Tuesday and accepted the sanction proposed by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

'On-field umpires Rod Tucker and Kumar Dharmasena and third umpire Chris Gaffaney levelled the charges.'