Manchester City academy boss Jim Cassell has spoken of his sadness after Nedum Onuoha was racially abused playing for England Under-21s.

UEFA were forced to make a rare anti-racism announcement after City full-back Onuoha was abused by Serbia fans during England's European Under-21 Championship clash and a full-scale investigation has been launched by European football's governing body.

Cassell told the Manchester Evening News: "It's a sad, sad reflection what happened. UEFA will gather all the evidence and once they have the facts take appropriate action.

"I will be contacting his parents to reaffirm what we all know, that the vast majority of people are fully behind their son who is a first class individual.

"Nedum is one of the soundest people I have ever met. A really nice, genuine boy and so are his family. If he wasn't a footballer he would be a huge success in whatever he chose to do. He is rational and will keep calm and cope."