David Cameron 'plans football racism summit'

David Cameron is expected to step into the row over racism in football by staging a Downing Street summit on the issue.

The Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt are to hold a "round table discussion" with the sport's authorities and players' representatives, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

The event, scheduled for later this month, comes amid growing fears that high-profile incidents are harming the image of the game in England.

A fresh spat broke out yesterday after Liverpool forward Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra before the teams' match.

Suarez has only recently returned to action for Liverpool following an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra during a game in October.

At a charity reception last month, Mr Cameron said many people had been "concerned by recent events" in the sport.

"My message is clear: we will not tolerate racism in Britain. It has absolutely no place in our society and where it exists, we will kick it out," he said.

"Our football governing bodies, clubs and footballers themselves have a vital role to play as role models in this respect."

A source at the Premier League told the newspaper the talks at Number 10 were expected to be "constructive and positive".

PA