Oxford United has suspended footballer Ross Weatherstone for two weeks without pay for his part in a racist attack.

The Second Division club took action after an outcry from anti-racist groups and some fans.

In a phone poll, 60 per cent of Oxford Mail readers who responded called for the player to be sacked. The penalty is likely to cost the 19-year-old defender about 600 in wages.

After last week's court case, in which Weatherstone was fined 500 and ordered to pay 200 costs, the club issued a 32-word statement which said that it had a firm anti-racist policy but promised to back the player through this "difficult time".

Yesterday, officials issued a longer statement which said: "The club expects a high standard of behaviour from its employees and procedures are applied when any player's or other member of staff's behaviour falls below that level. "Among many matters, racist behaviour forms part of the 'Let's Kick Racism out of Football' campaign, to which the club sub- scribes.

"Those disciplinary procedures have undergone their due process in relation to the Ross Weatherstone incident and tough and effective action has been taken in addition to the punishment meted out through the court.

"Ross will be suspended without pay for the maximum period allowed under Football League rules and ordered to undertake a substantial amount of community work over the next three months.

"While taking this action, the club remains supportive of Ross Weatherstone while he seeks to rehabilitate himself, while strongly condemning the behaviour for which he was convicted. The club wishes to make it clear it does not condone racist behaviour of any kind at any time." United has been widely criticised for being slow to take strong action. However, last week chairman Firoz Kassam was in hospital and club secretary Mick Brown was on holiday.

Mr Kassam, himself of Asian descent, as is fellow director Ashwini Tawakley, said: "It has been made abundantly clear to all members of the playing staff and club officials that racist behaviour of any sort will not be tolerated and vigorous action will be taken if such behaviour should occur.

"Oxford United is a multi-racial club at all levels, from the board of directors, through the professional playing staff to the centre of excellence.

"Strenuous efforts are made to ensure all our community activities are inclusive of ethnic groups, with some specific targeting of the Asian community which is under-represented in football across the professional game." Weatherstone and two friends were found guilty by Reading magistrates of racially aggravating, threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour towards taxi driver Zafrad Naeem.

A disturbance inside the cab led to the taxi veering off the road into a lamp post and ending on its side. Mr Naeem was injured and was said to be left mentally scarred.

Weatherstone, from Woodcote, near Reading, who is thought to earn about 15,000 a year, is currently recovering from a leg injury.