Hampshire Constabulary say they were prompted to take the unusual step of asking the FA to intervene by "the sheer number of people involved" in the chanting directed at the Portsmouth defender by visiting Spurs fans on Sunday.

The FA are awaiting reports from witnesses and officials at the game, including referee Mike Dean before deciding whether to take matters further but they have already been contacted by the Hampshire police - who admitted it was "not feasible" to make arrests.

A statement from the FA said: "The FA recognises that football has a duty to challenge all discrimination within the game and our aim is to confront aggressive issues and obscene chanting and abuse.

"The FA takes these matters seriously and will investigate any alleged case we are made aware of, taking action where necessary."

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp branded the verbal attacks on the 34-year-old - who left Spurs on a free transfer at the end of his White Hart Lane contract in June 2001 to join fierce local rivals Arsenal - as "filthy".

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "Our officers at the game were aware of the problem but it was not feasible to make arrests in that kind of huge crowd situation. So no arrests were made.

"But what we have done is make a complaint to the FA about the conduct of fans which will, hopefully, be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

"We deal with these issues case by case, match by match, and on this occasion the sheer number of people involved was just too many for us to take action against individuals.

"Clubs employ us to keep situations like this to a minimum and with the help of stewards on their staff we can normally warn people they are committing a public order offence.

"That often solves the problem but on this occasion it was just too much.

"It is rare for us to forward a complaint about supporters' conduct to the FA but this is what we believe was the best option on this occasion."

The spokesman added: "I cannot say whether the chanting was obscene, homophobic or racist, not having been there, but the FA officer we contacted said he understood from his background experience what it was."

The FA could charge Tottenham with failing to control their supporters, even though this action has obvious anomalies and is usually directed towards the home club when offensive behaviour comes into question.

Campbell, who joined Portsmouth from Arsenal in August 2006 on another free transfer, was subjected to similar vilification when Pompey lost at home to Tottenham on December 15 last year. The former England star was so upset then that he aired his complaints on a local radio phone-in programme.

He has long been involved with the 'Kick It Out' campaign against racism in football but the abuse he has suffered whenever he has played against Spurs has been more of a personal nature.

A disgusted Redknapp, who has also had cause to complain of his treatment by opposition fans when Portsmouth played at Villa Park last season, said: "Nobody likes being called filthy names and hearing other filthy abuse.

"It's not right. What has that got to do with coming to a game? For a start there are kids there.

"Sol's been fantastic since he came here and he was terrific again on Sunday. I've been asked whether the stick he gets makes him play even better and that could be the case but nobody wants to hear this in football.

"All I know is that Sol's a great player and he showed it again. (On Sunday) he knew the centre forward (Roman Pavlyuchenko). I think he played against him for England against Russia last season and he dominated him against Spurs."

Redknapp is also particularly upset by the treatment Campbell is still receiving from his former fans because Portsmouth enjoy a friendly working relationship with Tottenham and currently boast six ex-Spurs players in their squad including striker Jermain Defoe whose penalty on Sunday sparked Pompey's win.

The others are Younes Kaboul, Noe Pamarot, Peter Crouch - who was on Spurs' books as a youngster - Sean Davis who is currently injured and, of course, Campbell.