KICK IT OUT’S Troy Townsend said today Tottenham defender Renee Hector has been “victimised” since reporting racist abuse against her in January.

Sheffield United forward Sophie Jones was banned for five games and fined £200 yesterday after being found guilty of abusing Hector during a Championship match at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Stadium in January.

Hector alleged she “received some monkey noises from an opposition player” during the match.

“Last night she received an image of a monkey on her social media account,” Townsend, Kick It Out’s head of development told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “Sometimes I don’t think we appreciate the wellbeing of someone who’s done a brave thing.

“When you’re a victim you’re victimised again because you do talk out.

“Renee has been victimised about this ever since she spoke out about it on social media.”

Meanwhile, Jones denied the claim and her then club said in a statement she “maintains her innocence,” but an independent regulatory commission said the charge was “found proven.”

It is that outcome that Jones says has left her without a future as a player. She described the hearing as a “kangaroo court” and said she could not continue to play under an organisation she “does not have any confidence in.”

In a statement released on social media, Jones said: “I would like to state on record that I do not condone racism in any form and I will continue to stand by this statement.

“I strongly stand firm that I am not guilty with regards to the charge that the FA have brought against me.

“I am struggling to come to terms with this decision and how the FA can come to a verdict based on probability from the two witness accounts verbally given, instead of reviewing the case and its evidence, in its entirety, based on the Sport Law and Practice Second Edition stating ‘the more serious the allegation the greater degree of satisfaction required.’

“The FA ‘independent’ panel received more than 10 other witness statements from players within the alleged incident vicinity including Tottenham players, also all the match officials, all confirming they did not hear any racial abuse and or comments made.

“Video evidence that was submitted clearly showing no issue had occurred in the game had also totally been disregarded by the panel. Audio transcript of the alleged incident was taken to be reviewed and came back clear.

“Two witness statements from Tottenham players continuously contradicted each other. And finally, my barrister was constantly being shut down by the independent panel when trying to discredit the two witness statements. In short, he wasn’t allowed to do his job.

“The hearing took place in a kangaroo court. It is with a heavy heart that I feel I am unable to continue within football and play under an organisation that I do not have any confidence in. I would like to personally thank Kevin McCabe and everyone at Sheffield United for their continuous support.”

In response to Jones’s statement regarding her future and the nature of their hearing, the FA defended it and insisted further details about how Jones was found guilty would be provided.

“The case against Sophie Jones was heard by an independent regulatory commission comprising two independent lawyers and a former football player and manager,” the organisation said.

“The written reasons in the case will be published in due course, which will provide a detailed account of the evidence given and the findings of the commission.

“The FA continues to treat all allegations of discrimination seriously and encourages any players who believe they have been the subject of, or witness to, discriminatory abuse to report this through the appropriate channels.”