The decision to discipline Oxford United player Ross Weatherstone has been welcomed by an anti-racist group, writes John Chipperfield.

The Oxfordshire Racial Equality Council praised United chairman Firoz Kassam for taking action against the 19-year-old defender.

As reported in the Oxford Mail on Saturday, Weatherstone, who was convicted by Reading magistrates 12 days ago of a racist attack on a taxi driver, has been suspended and fined two weeks' wages about 600 by the Second Division club and ordered to do community work. Adrian Harper-Smith, director of the Oxfordshire Racial Equality Council, said: "I am pleased Mr Kassam has taken the action that everyone has been demanding for the past week.

"The club's initial response was clearly way off the mark and we are delighted that matters have now been put right.

"We are determined to work with Oxford United to ensure that the club enhances its position within the community."

United had been criticised for not taking a tough stance. Its only response immediately after the court case was to issue a 32-word statement which said the club had a firm anti-racist policy but promised to back the player through this "difficult time".