Shocked Jurgen Klopp praises ‘brave’ Liverpool teenager Rhian Brewster for speaking out over racist abuse

The teenager has spoken candidly about a litany of abhorrent incidents including seven cases of alleged racism during matches

Rhian Brewster starred in England Under-17s' World Cup winning campaign (Reuters)

Jurgen Klopp has praised Liverpool’s young forward Rhian Brewster for speaking out about the racist abuse he has received in his short football career to date, and expressed shock that “people still have these thoughts”.

The 17-year-old Brewster is one of the brightest talents to come through at Anfield in recent years and starred for England Under-17s as they became world champions in the summer.

In an interview with the Guardian this week, the teenager spoke candidly about a litany of abhorrent incidents including seven cases of alleged racism during matches – five of which he said occurred in the last seven months and one in the World Cup final.

“All the support he needs and wants, we will give,” said Klopp, speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit of Leicester City. “It is interesting, to be honest. I have been in this business a long time and have never faced a situation like that.

"Obviously it happens all the time and I am happy that he has been brave enough to do what he did. It is such an important thing. I cannot believe that people still have these thoughts in their mind.”

In the interview, Brewster called on Uefa and Fifa to take a firmer stance over racism in football, saying there needs to be “more severe punishments”.

“If it wasn’t in the game, it would be so much better,” he said. “You wouldn’t have to worry about playing abroad, worrying about what the fans are going to say, or what another player is going to say.

“I wouldn’t have to worry that if I score they are going to call me all types of names.”