Police are investigating after allegations of discrimination towards fans was made during day four of the fifth Test between England and India at Edgbaston
The England and Wales Cricket Board and Warwickshire will give lifetime bans to any ticketholders found guilty of racism following allegations of abuse during day four of the fifth Test between England and India at Edgbaston.
Reports of incidents taking place in the Eric Hollies Stand during play emerged last night, triggering a police investigation.
Accounts of the abuse flooded social media on Monday (July 4) evening, with one user Kushal Malde describing his group being called "smelly P***s".
A subsequent statement from the Bharat Army - the India supporters' group - confirmed the reports.
Edgbaston officials are investigating the events - some of which were reportedly not acted upon despite complaints - with Warwickshire chief executive Stuart Cain confirming an indefinite ban will be handed out to any offending fan.
"I'm angry about the fact that people think it's acceptable at an international cricket event and apologise for the distress it's caused," he said in a club statement.
"I have spoken to those who raised the issue on social media, the Stewards managing the Eric Hollies Stand and the Police.
Reports of the incidents overshadowed a thrilling fourth day (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
"We actively support police action in alleged cases of abuse and have provided them with CCTV imagery and further information which has led to them launching a criminal investigation and they are asking people to call 101 and quote reference 20-613293-22 if they have further information.
"If the police investigations lead to prosecution, then we will ban those involved from Edgbaston and the ECB will also ban them from all other cricket venues nationwide.
The Birmingham venue is the host for the second T20I between England and India on Saturday (July 9) and Cain is urging fans to download the Edgbaston app to report abuse directly.
He confirmed that in a separate incident during day four, three fans were ejected within 10 minutes of a complaint being lodged using the app.
He added: "We will be writing to all fans to remind them of our zero-tolerance approach to abuse and also increasing awareness of the app through wristbands, seat stickers, messages on hi-vis jackets and increased speaker and screen messages.
"Everybody should feel safe and welcome at Edgbaston, and we will continue to work hard to deliver this expectation."
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