Uefa launch probe over Lazio's racist chants at Spurs

Hugo Lloris claims he is relaxed at not being first-choice keeper (REUTERS)

Uefa confirmed last night that they have opened disciplinary action against Lazio over "improper conduct" of supporters following the racial abuse heard during Thursday night's Europa League game at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon were subjected to monkey chants apparently from sections of the travelling Lazio fans in the 0-0 draw. The Spurs manager, Andre Villas-Boas, said after the game that he had not heard any racist abuse but was confident the authorities would investigate the matter thoroughly.

Meanwhile the France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who made his debut for Spurs in the Group J game, has said he understands the need for a "period of adaptation" at his new club.

"I think I have time to adapt with my new team and I think everybody in Tottenham thinks the same thing," said Lloris, who was on the bench when Brad Friedel started in last Sunday's 3-1 win at Reading. "I give all my best – I want to work and I want to play, but now I think the coach will take [the decision]. Me, I just work and we'll see."

Lloris, who is 16 years younger than Friedel, insisted he was relaxed about his future. "I think Tottenham has a great project for the future," he said, "and I think I will have my place, but now is a period of adaptation."

The France coach, Didier Deschamps, said earlier this month that Lloris "did not appreciate" Villas-Boas' saying that Friedel was his first-choice goalkeeper even after Lloris' arrival from Lyons.

Friedel reacted angrily yesterday after the former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez told Le Parisien that Lloris should now be the No 1. "Just saw Barthez comments," Friedel tweeted. "I normally don't comment on such crap but when disrespected by someone I don't respect I must. ]He] was ignorant, disrespectful and out of order to mention my name."

Barthez had said that Lloris was "one of the five best goalkeepers in the world" and that "he is faster than Friedel, he jumps higher, and he is very strong mentally." He described Lloris' benching as "incomprehensible" and predicted "Tottenham will not let him stay on the bench for a long time". Lloris for his part said "the coach will take the decision" about who will start when Spurs host Queen's Park Rangers tomorrow.