Gloucester supporters have threatened defamation proceedings against the Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew for comments he made after the Premiership match between the clubs at Kingsholm in December.

Andrew claimed there was a racist element among the Gloucester crowd, but an independent panel, set up by the Rugby Football Union to look at that contention as well as Andrew's claim that the Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam had racially insulted Newcastle's flanker Epi Taione during the match, absolved both player and supporters.

The Gloucester Rugby Supporters' Association and Azam have asked for a public apology from Andrew, who has steadfastly refused to comment since the panel reported at the beginning of the month.

Azam is considering instituting libel proceedings against Andrew and the supporters' association has written to the former England outside-half putting him under notice of a claim.

He has two weeks to respond and the association says that unless it receives an apology from him as well as payment for legal costs incurred it will forward the papers to a barrister to determine whether a writ should be issued.

Andrew was unavailable for comment last night, but if Gloucester and Newcastle maintain their current positions in the Premiership, second and seventh respectively, they will meet at Kingsholm in the play-offs with Andrew still banned from the ground.

"This matter has to be resolved as a matter of urgency," said the Gloucester chief executive Ken Nottage. "We have to put it to bed and I have been trying to get hold of Rob.

"An apology would end it all, and given that the two sides could meet each other at Kingsholm this season I am sure the RFU will get involved if the two clubs do not sort it out. Put simply, Rob's ban from Kingsholm will not be lifted until our supporters and Olivier receive an apology."

Gloucester did receive an apology yesterday, from the BBC, for a comment made during last week's Rugby Special. After Azam had been sent to the sin-bin against Northampton, Eddie Butler remarked: "At least it did not start a race riot."

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