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Joe Hart to leave racism issues in hands of officials

Hart: We'll let refs deal with racism
© PA Photos
Joe Hart believes that it is the match officials' prerogative to decide if players should leave the pitch if racially abused during Euro 2012.

England and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes that it is up to the referees to decide how players should respond to racial abuse during a match at Euro 2012.

The issue of racism has been prevalent in recent months, with reports claiming that violent outbreaks are common within groups of football supporters in Eastern Europe.

UEFA president Michel Platini recently claimed that players will be cautioned if they walk off the pitch for receiving racial slurs, which Mario Balotelli claimed he would do if targeted.

"Our advice is to get on with it and see how the referee and UEFA deal with it," Hart said in a press conference. "It's not for us to do. Hopefully the referee and UEFA will take it into their own hands if that problem does occur.

"Fingers crossed we won't have to deal with anything like that. It's down to the referee. We can't take rules into our own hands. If the referee feels it's right for us to walk off then we'll follow him."

England will take on France for their opening group fixture on Monday.

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