THE Football Association has contacted Leeds to ask for El-Hadji Diouf's version of events as part of an investigation into footage which showed the striker being racially abused during a match at Millwall in November.

Millwall have also reopened an investigation into the incident, saying they are "appalled" by footage shown on Sky Sports News on Monday night. The film appeared to show the Senegal international alerting the referee and making stewards aware of his allegations but Millwall insisted no complaint of racist abuse was made by the player at the time.

It is understood Leeds have provided the governing body with the Senegal striker's version of what happened. An FA statement said: "We were concerned by the video footage and we have requested a copy for our full consideration. We will work with all the relevant authorities including the police to investigate fully."

The FA also urged anyone "subject to or witness to racial abuse" to report it. Football League chairman Greg Clarke and FA independent board member Heather Rabbatts have both stressed the need for players to be given the support to report incidents of racist abuse.

Clarke admitted something in the game may be "terribly wrong" if black players felt unable to do so. Clarke, who was at the match in question, told Sky Sports News: "To have our players subjected to such vile and filthy abuse deserves nothing more than the culprits being arrested and facing the full weight of the law."

Meanwhile, Rabbatts, who coincidentally is a former deputy chief executive of Millwall, said the governing body had to take note of what happened at The Den. Rabbatts told Press Association Sport: "It's the responsibility of all of us involved in the game that where those incidents take place they are reported so that we can take action.

"It is a real concern that many feel they cannot report such abuse. What we saw was shocking and horrible and from the FA's perspective it revealed the challenge that we have still to face in dealing with racism."

However, Reading striker Jason Roberts was dismissive of the FA's recent action plan to deal with racism. He told Sky Sports News: "We need to do better. We need to have proper zero tolerance to it when these things happen. We need to hit the offending clubs or individuals hard.

"The FA has come up with a 92-point plan but nothing in that plan makes me think we are going to change this situation. When I go out on the football pitch I don't want to be subjected to that kind of abuse. Get CCTV cameras working properly, get the police and stewards doing their jobs properly."

Millwall captain Danny Shittu said he was "deeply saddened" by the Sky Sports News documentary. He said: "As the current Millwall captain, racism is something I do not stand for or condone. I am currently in talks with the club about any further measures we can take in dealing with and eradicating racism at matches."