FIFA Probes Racist Abuse Of England Players In Hungary
Sep 3, 2021, 11:52 AM
Jack Grealish of England drinks from a cup thrown from the crowd at Harry Maguire of England after he scores the third goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Hungary and England at Stadium Puskas Ferenc on September 02, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
ZURICH (AP) — After England players faced racial abuse in Hungary, FIFA said Friday it will take “adequate actions” once it has investigated the incidents.
The statement from FIFA stopped short of directly condemning Hungary fans for the abuse, which included monkey chanting, in Thursday night’s World Cup qualifier at Puskas Arena in Budapest. England won 4-0.
@UEFA ….interested to see what your response/sanctions will be to the racism the @England players received in #Hungary last night.
Totally unacceptable.
👀👀— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) September 3, 2021
“FIFA strongly rejects any form of racism and violence and has a very clear zero tolerance stance for such behavior in football,” world soccer’s governing body said. ”FIFA will take adequate actions as soon as it receives match reports concerning yesterday’s Hungary-England game.”
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Hungary had recently been ordered to play two matches without fans but the sanction from UEFA didn’t take effect for the visit of England because the game was under FIFA’s jurisdiction.
The racist abuse has been condemned by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been criticized for his own racially offensive comments in the past.
“It is completely unacceptable that England players were racially abused in Hungary last night,” Johnson said on Twitter. “I urge (FIFA) to take strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good.”
Fifa investigating racial abuse aimed at England players during World Cup qualifier in Budapest
https://t.co/2oLg2Is496— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 3, 2021
England’s players were jeered for taking a knee, pelted with plastic cups after goals and then targeted with alleged racist chants.
Pitch-side reporters for domestic broadcasters ITV and Sky Sports said they saw and heard individuals among the Hungary supporters behind one of the goals aim monkey chants at Raheem Sterling and unused substitute Jude Bellingham, who are Black. Sky Sports showed video footage of one spectator giving the abuse.
The game was played in front of a crowd of 60,000 mostly Hungarian fans about two months after UEFA ordered the team to play three matches without fans — one of which was suspended for a probationary period of two years — as a punishment for what was termed “discriminatory” behavior by its supporters at all three of its Euro 2020 group games.
Those behind-closed-doors games have to be in UEFA competition, though. World Cup qualifiers are organized by FIFA.
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