Dundalk have strongly condemned racist abuse directed towards members of their squad. 

It follows Thursday night's 3-1 defeat to Rapid Vienna at the Aviva Stadium in the UEFA Europa League.

Dundalk's goal came via a Chris Shields penalty, after Nathan Oduwa had sent an earlier spot-kick wide of the upright.

The Lilywhites say they've been "made aware of some vile comments directed at members of our squad on social media".

In a statement, they add, "Racism and discrimination is a stain on football and society as a whole and everyone at the club is disgusted by – and utterly condemns – the comments that were made.

"The individuals who expressed these views do not represent the values of our club and we will take the strongest course of action available to us.

"Dundalk FC has zero-tolerance of any form of racism or discrimination and we will do whatever is possible to protect our players and supporters from such abuse."

Interim head coach Filippo Giovagnoli said after the game that he'd wanted Shields to take the first penalty.

However, the captain offered his full support to Oduwa after the miss, "I didn’t know Filippo wanted me to take it and I was happy for Nathan to take it,” Shields said.

"I’d have a lot of trust installed in Nathan, as I do with all of our players.

“I see him every day and he does practice penalties. Our goalkeepers would tell you that he is very clinical in training.

"He did what he wanted to do, he sat their keeper down the other side but just missed the execution. He was just unlucky."

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