TWO Burnley FC fans have been charged with racism offences after an incident during the Clarets away tie at Brighton and Hove Albion last Saturday.

An investigation was launched by Sussex Police amid allegations that abuse was directed towards Gaëtan Bong during the Premier League tie, which ended with a 3-1 away win.

Club stewards are said to have responded to reports of racist abuse in the away end at Amex Stadium.

Two supporters were identified by staff and ejected from the ground.

Later the pair were arrested by local police and questioned about the matter.

Sussex Police have now confirmed that two men have been charged in relation to the incident.

A police spokesman said: "Nathan Higgins, 18, a student, of Talbot Drive, Burnley, has been charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and using racially aggravated threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

"Stewart Higgins, 53, an engineer, both of Talbot Drive, Burnley, Lancashire, has been charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress."

Bong has been the focus of attention by a section of the Burnley support since he accused the Burnley-born West Bromwich Albion forward Jay Rodriguez of racially abusing him during a game last season.

Later the FA ruled, after reviewing video footage of the matter and speaking to the players, that the case against Rodriguez, who left the Clarets for Southamption in 2012, was "not proven".