Plymouth Argyle are investigating allegations of anti-gypsy chanting by fans, aimed at a Southend United player during last Saturday’s npower League Two match.

The Pilgrims, who gained a 2-2 draw against the Essex team, said they had already received reports from fans at the game who have raised concerns about chants and are expecting more to follow.

A spokesman for Argyle said: “We have received a number of complaints relating to crowd behaviour during Saturday’s game.

“We are currently conducting a thorough investigation into these complaints.”

Argyle say they will issue a full statement once the investigation has concluded. Argyle Fans’ Trust said it has also been made aware of the allegations.

The Fans’ Trust said it was “aware of a small number of incidents this season involving unacceptable and often aggressive chanting or comments.” It said it recognised the chanting “includes comments many would understand to be racist or homophobic in tone.”

In a statement, the Trust said: “On Saturday an incident involving abuse coming from a supporter towards the Barn Park end of the Lyndhurst stand was reported to the police by a Trust member.

“Our message to any so-called fans who cannot put aside their own bigotry for 90 minutes is simple: You are not welcome at Home Park.

“The Fans’ Trust will be approaching the club to ensure that a robust system is in place for reporting such behaviour, but in the meantime we would urge any other fans who witness it to report it, in confidence, to the club or the Trust.”

Argyle president Chris Webb revealed that there were two incidents at the game, and said the first – a religiously motivated insult at a player – resulted in an individual being ejected from the grounds.

The other, was the alleged mass anti-traveller chanting which is understood to have been aimed at Southend’s French-Tunisian defender Bilel Mohsni. Webb said he felt there was a “lack of understanding” among some of the fans about what was acceptable. He was also keen to distance the newly formed Forza Verde 1886 organisation from any derogatory chanting.

Webb said that the Forza Verde group was created in an effort to reignite the “atmosphere and passion at Home Park” with “a vibrancy and noise that has been lacking for too long”.

Webb added: “At no time have or will Forza Verde support any antisocial, racist, homophobic or aggressive behaviour. Such behaviour is not welcome and has no place at Home Park or in wider society.

“My beliefs and values are such that it makes me sick to the pit of my stomach to imagine anyone being discriminated against for any reason.”

He said the Trust would “play an active part from whatever comes out of the investigation at Home Park.” A spokesman for Southend United said the first they knew of the allegations was following contact from the press.

The spokesman said: “We understand Plymouth Argyle are carrying out an investigation. Southend United and Bilel have not made any complaints about comments made at Home Park.

“We are happy to support Plymouth Argyle in their investigation.”