WELSH football's top brass insist they will take a 'tough stance' and make and example of any fan found to have sent hate-mail or made abusive calls to the men at the centre of the club v country row.

Welsh FA chief David Collins admitted that abusers could face a life-time ban from every football ground in the Principality and be forbidden from travelling to any away matches to see the national team.

Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson and Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce were the main targets for the insults after they pulled Craig Bellamy and Robbie Savage respectively out of Wales' Euro 2004 qualifier in Azerbaijan last week due to 'injuries.'

FAW secretary general Collins said: "The Football Association of Wales deplore anyone who makes abusive calls or sends hate-mail. I cannot believe any Wales fans would do that sort of thing. It is very concerning and deeply distressing for us let alone their hate-mail targets.

"We will certainly have to investigate the allegations. They are very serious claims. If anyone is found to be making such calls or sending hate-mail, they would go before our disciplinary panel.

"I cannot prejudge what action they could take but their sentencing powers are wide-ranging. They could ban a so-called supporter from every football ground in Wales for life and prohibit them for travel to Wales' away games.

"The FAW want to take a tough stance on this issue."

Savage missed Wales' 2-0 Group Nine win in Azerbaijan last week due to a groin injury and was even declared unfit to travel by Welsh doctor Len Noakes.

But Savage's club boss Bruce received abusive calls after his mobile telephone number was posted on the internet.

Doctors at St James' Park maintained that hotshot Bellamy could only play once a week as he recovered from a knee injury. Twice a week would hinder his recovery progress.