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John Barnes has questioned Jadon Sancho's comments on racism in football.

England international Sancho admitted earlier this week his 'love of the sport' will go if racism continues.

Sancho's comments came after Romelu Lukaku was taunted by Cagliari fans while he took a penalty for Inter Milan over the weekend.

Lukaku's former Manchester United teammates Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford were both abused earlier this season, while Kurt Zouma received sickening messages after his own goal against Sheffield United on Saturday.

But Barnes has sent a surprising message to Sancho on his role as a young black footballer.

(Image: Getty Images)

"Jadon said he will fall out of love with football, let him give up football," Barnes told talkSPORT.

"Let him go into the real world as a young black man, without education, without playing football.

"Then he will see what it is really like to be a black man being racially abused, what real discrimination is about.

"I heard he signed a nice new contract. Is he ready to give up that contract because he is falling out of love with football? I don't think so."

(Image: ITV)

Barnes continued and suggested the likes of Sancho and Lukaku should be highlighting the issue of racism in wider society.

"As much as footballers want to talk about how terrible it is for them, look at what's happening to the black community, kids without an education and without a job," the former Liverpool winger added.

"We are going full circle, trying to do something to change, using these black footballers what we should do, and how terrible it is for them.

"They should use their voice, talk about discrimination, where it really helps people.