Gillingham have said that a Colchester player was subject to racist abuse at Priestfield last Saturday.

The Gills lost the League 2 match 3-0 and the incident is said to have happened during the second half of the game.

A statement from Gillingham’s safety and security team said: “It has been brought to the attention of the Football Club that an opposing player was subject to racist abuse from a section of the Rainham End during the second half of Saturday’s game against Colchester United.

“The club has made it very clear in the past, and we do so once more, that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at Priestfield Stadium and anyone found guilty of such offences will be subject to arrest, or a Football banning order.

“If you have any information from Saturday’s game then please email enquiries@priestfield.com.”

Gillingham were charged by the FA at the end of last season over an incident that happened in the home game against Colchester United in 2022/23 as well. They were also charged over games against Sutton United and AFC Wimbledon.

The charge for the Colchester game read: “It’s alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters - and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers - conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at its game against Colchester United FC on 26 December 2022, and don’t use words or behaviour that are improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting with either express or implied reference to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin.”

The defeat to Colchester last Saturday was Gillingham’s first reverse of the season in League 2. It followed an excellent start to the season which had seen Neil Harris’ men win their first four league matches. The Gills are away to Grimsby Town in the league this Saturday.