Brighton and Hove Albion star Michel Kuipers took time out to urge youngsters to put the boot into racism.

During the talk he told pupils at Falmer School in Brighton that he would confront racists in football crowds.

Goalkeeper Kuipers, 26, said: "I told the kids they had to stand up to racism, that they have to correct people when they make racist comments because they're wrong.

"Racism is really sad and unintelligent and I think these comments are motivated by jealousy and are made by people who are frustrated with their own lives."

Kuipers grew up in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and said that he had not experienced racism when he was growing up because it was a multicultural city.

He added: "I have found the Albion supporters to be as tolerant but we shouldn't be complacent. People should still stand up to it when they hear it.

"If I heard racist abuse from the crowd I would approach them to say I thought they were wrong. People say racist things to make themselves look better but I think if they were politely told off they would soon feel silly."

Bobby Zamora, who dropped out of the talk with Kuipers to get treatment for an ankle injury, said: "I haven't really suffered any racism while being at Brighton but I did hear comments while at Bristol Rovers.

"It's just not a nice thing, is it? I would make a SSSSHH! gesture and hopefully go on to score a goal against them.

"I remember seeing documentaries about John Barnes and Justin Fashanu's experience of racism in the Eighties but I think things have changed now.

"Brighton fans are really friendly and I'm just enjoying my football here."

Hayley Gorringe, 15, a humanities student at Falmer School and Albion season ticket holder, was impressed.

She said: "I hadn't really thought about race before but Michel helped explain the experience of it, like when he's at airports he tends to get checked twice. There are pressures on black people that I hadn't considered."

Vikki Lawrence, 15, a fellow student and Albion fan, said: "I've always been an anti-racist but I'd feel more confident about standing up against racism.

"I didn't know until this talk that you can tell officials who work at the stadium about people who are shouting racist abuse and they can chuck them out for it."