Hunt faces Uefa case over alleged abuse

Uefa has charged Germany's Under-21 striker Aaron Hunt with gross unsporting conduct after he was accused of making racist comments to England players in last month's international.

Hunt was alleged to have abused Micah Richards and Anton Ferdinand during England's 2-0 win and, although he denied making racist remarks, he has been charged by Uefa following a complaint by the Football Association. His case will be dealt with by Uefa's control and disciplinary body tomorrow and he faces a suspension if found guilty.

Uefa recently gave Wisla Krakow's defender Nikola Mijailovic a five-match ban after he was found guilty of making racist remarks to the Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy.

In that case, however, McCarthy's claims were corroborated by the referee whereas in Hunt's case no match official has reported hearing any racist abuse. For that reason, Uefa has brought the charge of gross unsporting conduct rather than one of making racist remarks, and will be able to take disciplinary action even if it cannot prove the abuse was of a racist nature.

Ferdinand claimed he was called a "monkey" but refused to name the supposed culprits publicly, though television pictures show a heated exchange between the West Ham defender and Hunt.