A 47-year-old fan has been charged with racially abusing a Coca-Cola Championship footballer during a Carling Cup tie, police said today.

Staffordshire Police said the unnamed man, who is alleged to have made racist comments to Blackpool striker Jason Euell, was bailed to appear before magistrates in Stoke-on-Trent next week.

The man, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, was arrested at the Britannia Stadium during Stoke's 4-3 victory over Blackpool on September 23.

A police spokesman confirmed that he had been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence and bailed to appear in court on October 13.