Former Chelsea and Celtic soccer star Paul Elliot has called for more action and less talking about the blight of racism on the pitch.

The black player spoke of his own fear during his career when the ball went out of play and he had to face touchline abuse and bananas hurled from the terraces.

That was in the 1980s - if you had told me then that in 2005 we would still be talking about the issue of race, I would have been very very surprised.

Mr Elliot was in Brussels backing Euro-MPs calling for tougher anti-racism moves - including new powers for referees to stop matches as soon as a racist incident occurs at a match.

Labour MEP Claude Moraes said the European Commission should launch an anti-racism campaign in time for next summers World Cup in Germany.

Mr Moraes, Londons first black or Asian MEP, said: It wasnt too long ago that black England players were mocked with racist taunts at the Bernabeu in Madrid.

Its true that at this level of football the number of racist incidents has declined since the 1970s but far-right groups are still present on the terraces in Europe. Players in the lower leagues have to suffer racist chants from opponents and fans regularly.

Only last weekend there were racist incidents at matches in the Netherlands and Italy, and Mr Elliott said black players should not still be facing abuse:

The Commission for Racial Equality and the UK have done a great deal of work on this with the Kick it Out campaign.

But there is too much talking and not enough action. We have to take this seriously. There is a duty of care to footballers - the field of play is their workplace, so why should they face abuse at work?

He said: When the ball went out of play, at times it was scary to go to the touchline because a lot of bananas were thrown at you.

Todays declaration from MEPs, which has cross-party support, urges footballs governing bodies, national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters to do more to fight racism.

It says referees should blow the final whistle as soon as a racist incident occurs - a move which Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, a qualified non-league referee, said would be unpopular but not impossible in appropriate circumstances.

Mr Moraes said: New rules that allow referees to end matches as soon as abuse starts would make fans and clubs sit up and take notice of the disgraceful behaviour of a minority of people who insist on tarnishing the game.

Much work needs to be done in teaching tolerance and understanding at community level.

I have asked the Commission if they will support an anti-racism campaign for next years World Cup to underline that such behaviour will not be tolerated in Europe. I look forward to their response.