The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has renounced the alleged racial abuse suffered by national defender Damion Lowe during a Major League Soccer (MLS) game on Sunday.

Lowe, while playing for Inter Miami, was said to be allegedly called the N-word by DC United player Taxi Fountas during an argument on the field.

“The JFF stands firmly with our player Damion Lowe at this time,” the organisation said. “We abhor and condemn any form of racism, whether on or off the field of play. We know that Damion would not demonstrate without such provocation and we support him fully in this situation.”

A JFF official told the Jamaica Observer that the federation has reached out to Lowe to offer support, but did not disclose details of the conversation.

Inter Miami coach Phil Neville has expressed his disappointment at the incident.

“It was a racist comment,” he said. “It was unacceptable. A word was used. I think it’s unacceptable in society. A word was used, I think, the worst word in the world. And that’s it, really.”

Fountas and Lowe both received yellow cards in the 62nd minute after exchanging words. That all happened shortly after Fountas scored to level the game at 2-2.

Inter Miami players gathered and after a period of conversation that lasted several minutes, Neville spoke with Wayne Rooney, his DC United counterpart. Rooney took Fountas out of the game, and play resumed.

“There was a complaint, which I’m sure will get investigated. Not much more I can say,” Rooney told reporters.

MLS released a statement after the game saying an investigation “into this matter will begin promptly”.

“MLS has zero tolerance for abusive and offensive language, and we take these allegations very seriously,” the league said.

The Observer reached out to Lowe’s management team but was told no comment will be made about the incident until MLS completes its investigation.

Meanwhile, the JFF has also condemned a mass shooting which led to three deaths and six injuries at a football match in Spring Village, Old Harbour, on Sunday.

It is reported that the incident happened after 5:00 pm during a football match, leading to the death of two men and a woman. It is understood that a licensed firearm holder at the match challenged the gunmen, who fled.

“The football fraternity is just devastated by the mayhem and this brutal attack against community members at a football game in Spring Village,” JFF President Michael Ricketts said. “The JFF is seriously concerned and is just saddened. We will be having discussions, of course, with the police and the president of the St Catherine Football Association [Elaine Walker-Brown] and I have had some discussions. We will be meeting with the Old Harbour Police. We will be looking deeply at the referees’ report, and then we’ll take it from there. But we’re very unhappy with these occurrences. I can’t imagine the mayhem that would have taken place at that small community called Spring Village last evening. The JFF will give as much support as it can to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”