THE Football Association are awaiting reports from both referee Mike Dean and their crowd control advisors before deciding how to react to the racist chanting that blighted Sunday's Tees-Tyne derby between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

United fans abused Boro striker Mido throughout the game, branding him a "bomber" after he rounded goalkeeper Steve Harper to level the scores midway through the second half.

The FA could impose a wide range of penalties if Newcastle's supporters were to be found guilty of racist chanting, and a number of European clubs have been fined for a similar offence in recent seasons.

But while English football's governing body have been quick to criticise any suggestion of racist chanting within a Premier League ground, they will await first-hand reports from both Dean and Sunday's designated safety officer before deciding whether to punish Newcastle for the actions of a minority of the club's fans.

An FA spokesman said: "If there were anti-Muslim chants made at this match, that is something that we will take very seriously.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards all types of racist or anti-Muslim chanting.

It is totally unacceptable within the game."