Youths suspected of a brutal attack on a young footballer have allegedly gloated about the attack on the internet.

Maggie Hughes said she was “sickened’’ to find insulting comments about her son Robert Hughes, 27, on a page of social networking site Facebook, linked to one of the men arrested in Greece for the attack.

News of the alleged internet boasts came as Mrs Hughes struggled to get Greek police to act in getting justice for her son, forcing her to collect much of the evidence herself.

Meanwhile Robert, from South Croydon, has needed four life-saving operations to his battered skull since the attack in Malia, Crete, on June 17, and the suspects have been allowed to return home due to a loophole in Greek law.

Mrs Hughes said her fear that her son’s case was being overlooked by Greek police was compounded by her concerns that the British police had offered her “no support’’.

She said: “The Facebook site shows a photo of someone in a hospital bed and the text below says ‘she’s not dead yet’.

“It’s a code for what they have done and it’s sickening – it fills me with rage.

“Before I could have possibly forgiven them if it was a drunken accident.

“But knowing they have been on Facebook advertising what they have done and boasting about it, I’m full of anger.

“It’s like a smack in the face. It’s a disgrace these thugs are from Britain, they should be named and shamed.”

Mrs Hughes added: “The police say they have been in regular contact with us but that is a blatant lie.”

“They have shown no duty of care to us as British citizens. We’re getting nowhere.’’ Fair Trials Abroad solicitor Saima Hirji said the Greek police response could be a case for “national-based discrimination’’.

“Because it is a Brit against a fellow Brit and given the perception of Brits abroad, the Greek police may not be taking it seriously.

“It could be a case of nationally-based discrimination.”

MP Tom Brake said he would chase the Greek ambassador for an urgent meeting to discuss Robert’s case and would also raise with Sutton police the need for a permanent and proactive police liaison officer.

He said: “The police in Greece and the UK must redouble their efforts.

“Without close co-operation between the two forces, Robert will not get justice and those responsible for this horrendous attack will not get the punishment they deserve.’’ However, the family’s lawyer Zoe Lama said she did not believe there had been a lack of police action.

She said officers needed the victim’s testimony and medical advice from the hospital before they could proceed.

When contacted by the Sutton Guardian, a host of authorities handballed the problem.

The Greek police referred the Sutton Guardian to the British Embassy in Crete who said it had limited ability to get involved because it was not a consular issue.

Interpol said it could not interfere and the Metropolitan Police said they had no jurisdiction to get involved.

A Met Police spokesman said: “We have provided a liaison officer who is in regular contact with Mrs Hughes. Legally we are limited in what we can do.

“Unless the Greek authorities request assistance we cannot intervene in the investigation.’’