Dyer calls for decisive action to combat racism

Kieron Dyer has warned that players will start walking off the pitch in protest unless Uefa acts decisively to stamp out the scourge of racism. European football's governing body meet on Thursday to discuss the escalating problem of racial abuse at European matches.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry and Ipswich's Marcus Bent have both been subjected to abuse this season – Henry was targeted during the Gunners' Champions' League away win over PSV Eindhoven last Wednesday, while Liverpool and Fulham players have also been subjected to racial outbursts during European ties this season.

Dyer claimed there is only so much the players will continue to take. The Newcastle player said: "If it is not cut out of football it is going to get to the stage where some player walks off the pitch and refuses to play. Maybe it will come to that because there is only so much you can take before football goes out of the window. Maybe a manager pulls his whole team off the park or a player refuses to play on. It is going to get to a time when players just walk off."

Dyer has witnessed several appalling scenes of racial abuse involving international team-mates such as Emile Heskey, although he admits he has not found it a problem himself. He admitted he would deal with the issue differently – but demanded action from Uefa to cut it out of the game.

"I'm the type of person who would be more determined to go out there and ram the words back down their throats and prove these people wrong," Dyer added. "But I think anyone who is found guilty of racial abuse should get a life ban from football and be banned worldwide.

"A few supporters getting worldwide bans would hopefully persuade other supporters to take note of it and keep their mouths shut," the England international concluded.