Suspected online hate crimes referred to police have quadrupled already this season in English football, Sky News can reveal.

And we have learned that the football policing unit has urged the government to form a new unit to address racism in the sport.

We have also uncovered new details about the police investigation into the hate received by England star Jess Carter , who revealed to me after the Euros final win that the abuse nearly forced her to stop playing at the tournament.

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Lioness Jess Carter: 'It's been tough'

But the scale of racism facing footballers is highlighted by the abuse received by Kira Rai - a British Sikh Punjabi - after signing for Peterborough United last month.

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