LEAGUE OF IRELAND champions Shamrock Rovers have today asked the authorities to investigate a racist tweet allegedly targeting one of their players.

Earlier, the club were urged to take action after one of their own fans was alleged to have called Hoops defender Kerrea Gilbert a ‘monkey c***’ on Twitter.

“Shamrock Rovers is aware of racist material that was posted to social media sites,” a spokesperson told TheScore this evening.

“The club has asked the Gardaí to investigate what is a very serious issue. The comments in question were extremely disturbing and this matter is being taken very seriously by Shamrock Rovers. We will do everything we can to cooperate with the gardaí if an investigation is launched.”

The Rovers fan who allegedly sent the tweet, in the wake of the club’s EA Sports Sports Cup final defeat against Drogheda on Sunday, has since closed the account but anti-racism chiefs say ‘people must be accountable for their actions’.

‘The clubs and sports bodies have been involved in supporting the anti racism message over recent years,” said co-ordinator for Show Racism the Red Card Garrett Mullan.

“Shamrock Rovers players have been to the fore of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign.  Colin Hawkins, Graham Gartland, Stephen Rice, Gary Twigg have all been out to schools promoting the message.  Fans who think they are supporting the team by engaging in recent abuse ought to think again.

“This incident goes to show that there can be no complacency when it comes to racism and that racism must be tackled in all areas, whether in school, sport or on the internet.  People must be held accountable for their actions.”

Earlier this year, British authorities pursued a prosecution which resulted in a 56 day jail sentence for Liam Stacey who sent out a racist tweet about footballer Fabrice Muamba, who had been in a coma at the time having suffered a cardiac arrest in a Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur.