MX23RW : Friday, November 29 08:13:35| >> :600:166007:166007:
[monks data]
Bulgaria national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Oct 14, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
England national football team

0-6

FT(HT: 0-4)
Rashford (7'), Barkley (20', 32'), Sterling (45', 69'), Kane (85')

England players willing to walk off if subjected to racist abuse

England players willing to walk off if subjected to racist abuse
© Reuters
England's players received similar abuse in Montenegro in March.

Tammy Abraham and Trent Alexander-Arnold say England's players are prepared to defy UEFA's racism protocols and walk off the pitch if someone is targeted.

Gareth Southgate's side face away Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Friday and Bulgaria on Monday, with the second game – played at a partially closed Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia as a sanction for racism – set to come under particular scrutiny.

England's players were racially abused during their March qualifier against Montenegro in Podgorica, where they stayed on the pitch and ran out 5-1 winners.

Southgate has said that, going forward, England will follow UEFA's three-step protocol for dealing with racial abuse, which begins with making the referee aware of the situation and can end with the match being abandoned.

Raheem Sterling responded to racist taunts with his celebration in Montenegro
Raheem Sterling responded to racist taunts with his celebration in Montenegro (Nick Potts/PA)

But Abraham has suggested that, if England's players believe someone is not comfortable, captain Harry Kane will lead them off the field before the three steps are carried out.

"We've had several meetings about it since we've arrived (on Monday)," the Chelsea forward said.

"We've touched base on how to deal with the situation. Harry Kane even said that if it happens and we're not happy with it, we speak to the player and if he's not happy, we all come off the pitch together.

"It's a team thing. Don't isolate one person, we're a whole team. If it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.

Abraham was subjected to abuse after missing a penalty in the Super Cup
Abraham was subjected to abuse after missing a penalty in the Super Cup (Nick Potts/PA)

"We did speak about that. Harry Kane did ask the question about instead of going through the three steps, if we decide that we want to stop the game and we want to stop the game – no matter what the score is – if we're not happy with it, as a team we'll decide whether or not to stay on the pitch."

Abraham, who suffered online racist abuse earlier this season after missing a penalty in the Super Cup shoot-out defeat to Liverpool, believes offering abusers more than one chance is also the incorrect approach.

"For me personally, I think it's just one strike because it gives people excuses," he added. "One time, twice, three times – it gives silly people excuses."

Captain Harry Kane (right) has spoken with England's players about how to handle potential racist chants (Adam Davy/PA)
Captain Harry Kane (right) has spoken with England's players about how to handle potential racist chants (Adam Davy/PA)

Liverpool full-back Alexander-Arnold reckons the protocols will be followed but that, in any "extreme" situation, a different course of action may be appropriate.

"We had the meeting with the team and the staff," he said.

"We talked, everyone was happy and content with the way it went. We all understand what would happen if that situation occurred.

"UEFA have their way of doing it, the way we need to follow. That's what were going to do.

"As a team, we're all agreed we need to follow the protocol in place. Obviously as a team, as UEFA will make their decisions, we'll also make our decisions and we'll have a discussion about that if that time ever comes. Hopefully it doesn't.

"We need to be professional athletes. We have an obligation to follow the protocols, that's what we need to do. If it does get to the extreme, maybe different action might be taken.

"Hopefully that doesn't happen. It shouldn't happen in modern football. We're going there hoping nothing will happen and I'm sure nothing will."

While walking off the pitch may be seen by many as taking a strong stand against racial abuse, Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool team-mate Joe Gomez feels cases may have to be judged on individual merit.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was on media duty ahead of England's next set of Euro qualifiers
Trent Alexander-Arnold was on media duty ahead of England's next set of Euro qualifiers (Simon Cooper/PA)

"I think there is a clear standpoint in what the opinion is on the whole matter," the defender told talkSPORT.

"It is outrageous really that it is still going on in this day and age but I think it is a balancing act in your response, whether you feed into it or not and give them the satisfaction.

"For instance, if you come off the pitch, those sort of people might think they have won because if they are that naive to do it in the first place, they might be that slow in their thinking that it is a win for them.

"We all had a discussion and there is clear protocol in place and what we would should do.

"If it does happen, we all have to be united as a team and a country as a whole – it isn't just the players on the pitch."

ID:374481: cacheID:374481:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11946:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tammy Abraham celebrates scoring for Chelsea on October 2, 2019
Read Next:
Tammy Abraham: 'England ready to walk off over racial abuse'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Dolphins
17-30
Packers
8pm
Raiders
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!