NO ACTION will be taken by Barrow AFC against fans after an opposing team's player said he was racially abused during a match, it has been announced.

Club chief executive Levi Gill said there was 'not enough certainty' around who was responsible and that a punishment could 'penalise an innocent party'.

The abuse towards Colchester United goalkeeper Shamal George last month was said to have come from a stand containing Bluebirds fans.

Mr Gill referred to debate among Barrow's fans about 'whether the report was a result of players misunderstanding a fan song'.

"I can assure everybody that, having heard the complaint and read some of the witness information, this is not what has happened," he said.

"I’m convinced that the abuse occurred."

After the game, George tweeted: "What a big win that is. Plus three [points].

"Hope the racists enjoyed that one."

Barrow AFC have repeatedly expressed the message on social media that discrimination has no place in football, and Bluebirds players were this week spoken to by police to help them understand how the constabulary and the club could assist each other in tackling the problem. The talk was held as part of National Hate Crime Awareness week.

Mr Gill stressed the absence of further action in the case involving George 'should not be taken as a sign that the club condones this kind of behaviour'.

"With the backing of the club’s owners, I will take the strongest possible action against anybody proven to be responsible either for this incident or any similar future cases," he said.

"This behaviour is completely contrary to what this club stands for and cannot be tolerated in modern society."

Mr Gill said the conclusion of the police investigation had been that there was 'insufficient evidence' to progress the matter criminally, although a suspect was 'interviewed under caution' - facts confirmed by a Cumbria Constabulary spokesman.

Mr Gill said the club had collected statements from stewards and consulted CCTV footage to assist with the investigation conducted by Rickie Wallbank, Barrow AFC's police liaison officer.

"Unfortunately, some of the anonymous information received was conflicting and, while CCTV footage shows clearly who is stood in a particular area of the ground, it can’t show who said what," said Mr Gill.

"The club continues to ask for information relating to the incident against Colchester United and encourages fans to report any future incidents to a steward or club official.

"We will be handing out information cards at the point of entry to our next Saturday game, explaining to fans the best ways to report racist abuse in the future."