BLACKBURN Rovers are waiting to see whether racist abuse allegedly hurled at top-scorer Rudy Gestede after Saturday’s Championship clash at Middlesbrough will be included in referee Mark Clattenburg’s match report.

Gestede netted his 11th goal of the season, five minutes into added time at the end of the Riverside Stadium encounter, to earn Rovers a dramatic 1-1 draw.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But moments after the final whistle he appeared to react angrily to something allegedly said to him from a stand where Middlesbrough fans were housed.

Team-mates Lee Williamson and Markus Olsson went over to Gestede who was pictured making a monkey action with his arms behind his back.

It is alleged the Benin international striker was mimicking a gesture directed towards him from the stand.

Williamson, who took over the Rovers captain’s armband after Grant Hanley went off injured, went to speak to Clattenburg after the game.

It remains unclear what was discussed and last night both clubs had not commented on the incident.

It is understood that Rovers and Middlesbrough will remain tight-lipped at least until they receive Clattenburg’s official report.

The FA will also be sent a copy of the report.

If the incident is included in Clattenburg’s report, it is likely to lead the FA to launching a full investigation.

Former Rovers striker Kevin Gallacher, who was at the match, said: “There is absolutely no place for racism in the game or in society.

“This is the 21st century but unfortunately it appears to be creeping back in and that’s terrible when you think how hard we’ve worked in Britain to stamp it out.”

Stewards at the game allegedly confirmed Gestede, 26, had suffered racial abuse.

Chairman of the BRFC Action Group Mark Fish, who was also at the Riverside, said: “After the full-time whistle, the Rovers players were on their way to the far corner where the away supporters where based, to applaud the fans.

“As they passed the home fans, a supporter clearly made comments and aimed monkey gestures towards Rudy, and Rudy reacted angrily to those actions, with his team-mates pulling him away from the area.

“Both Markus Olsson and Lee Williamson were present and Markus tried to approach the supporter in question before the stewards intervened.

“I spoke to a steward at the end of the incident and he confirmed it was a racist gesture and that it had been ‘passed to the police’.”

Cleveland Police were unavailable to comment on the matter.

It is the second Championship match Clattenburg has taken charge of this season that has featured an alleged racism row.

Norwich City striker Cameron Jerome claimed that he was racially abused by Leeds United defender Giuseppe Bellusci during a 1-1 draw between the teams at Carrow Road on October 21.

The FA are investigating that incident.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer, meanwhile, will assess the fitness of skipper Hanley today after the centre back hurt his ankle in the first half against Middlesbrough.

Bowyer said: “The injury curse seems to have struck again a little bit.

“We’ll assess him more on Monday but I thought Adam Henley came on and slotted in there magnificently.

“The squad is stretched but the lads who come in will not let this football club down.”