FA take significant step in Holgate/Firmino investigation

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  • FA take step forward in investigation into racial allegations made against Roberto Firmino
  • Brazilian reportedly accused by Mason Holgate of racist language
  • The pair clashed during the FA Cup clash at Anfield earlier this month
  • SEE MORE: Klopp: why rescuing draw at Swansea wouldn’t have helped

The FA have made progress in their investigation into racism allegations made against Roberto Firmino after the FA Cup Merseyside derby clash earlier this month.

Firmino was involved in a heated exchange with Mason Holgate in reaction to the Everton defender deliberately pushing the Brazilian into the stands during a challenge for the ball.

Both were subsequently broken up by referee Bobby Madley, who decided to take no action against either player.

Liverpool’s no.9 has since been accused of directing a racial slur at Holgate, sparking an official enquiry into the matter.

The FA’s disciplinary panel has interviewed both men and is currently in the process of interviewing teammates from both teams as well as the match officials, reports ESPN.

Allegations against Firmino somewhat tarnished what proved to be an enthralling derby, topped by a dramatic debut winner for Virgil van Dijk following his £75million move from Southampton.

There have been many suggestions, including through the Mirror’s use of a lip-reader, that there is no evidence of Firmino using a racist term.

Instead, the belief is that he merely used a derogatory and supposedly common Portuguese phrase, although details remain subject to the investigation’s conclusion.

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