Albion prospect Bernardo says Brazil is a more racist country than England.

The Brazilian defender has not encountered any problems since joining the Seagulls in the summer after spells in Germany, Austria and his homeland.

Bernardo faces Chelsea at the Amex tomorrow (1.30pm) with their fans under intense scrutiny.

Police are investigation allegations of racist abuse towards Manchester City’s England star Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, which prompted Chelsea to suspend four supporters.

Chelsea fans have also been condemned by anti-discrimination campaigners and Jewish groups over anti-Semitic chanting at Thursday’s Europa League clash in Budapest against Hungarian side Vidi.

Bernardo, 23, told The Argus: “Until now I cannot complain about anything.

“I haven’t experienced anything myself that I thought was racist.

“Since I arrived in Europe in general. Many people think Germany is a racist country, it isn’t at all.

“Things have changed, it’s a very open-minded country nowadays. Austria is the same, a bit more right-wing, but I didn’t face any kind of problems of racism.

“In England I have always been treated very, very well and I cannot complain.”

Bernardo had a privileged upbringing because his father, a former Brazil international, could afford to pay for a private education.

The Seagulls’ left-back said: “Brazil from the outside is looked upon as a mixed country, Indian, black, white, but it’s not like this.

“Brazil was one of the last countries to quit slavery. You notice the heritage from that comes through to today.

“For a black person to get out of poverty, to have a successful education, that mainly white people have in Brazil, it is very, very difficult.

“If you don’t have an education, don’t have support, live in a neighbourhood where the influences instead of studying are go get a gun, do something stupid, you start the race in 20th place and the people running against you are starting in first place.

“So it’s very difficult to equalise this situation. Something that I like specifically about London but also England in general is you see so many different cultures living together, those that have success going to eat in a good restaurant or drive a nice car.

“You see Asians, Arabics, blacks, whites, what ever. In Brazil, no. If you go to a good restaurant, if you go to a private school - as in my case - I was the only black guy from the first to the eighth grade.

“Every single grade had five classes of 30 students.

“I was the only black guy in the school because my dad played football.

“He also came from a humble family, he had the conditions to pay for me to have a good education.

“That’s what I meant with prejudice in Brazil. It happens a lot in countries like Brazil and South Africa. You just have rich and poor, you don’t have like in England a middle class.

“Then it reflects, the rich people are white, the poor people are black.”