We must be firm on racism

Sir Alex Ferguson has called for the authorities to crack down hard on any new incident of racism in football.

The Manchester United boss has been close to the centre of one such controversy - his defender Patrice Evra was racially abused by Liverpool's Luis Suarez, who has just completed the eight-match suspension imposed by the FA as punishment.

"I have had some fantastic black players, absolutely magnificent black players, and with every one of them I have enjoyed my working relationship with them."