England win? Check. Booking for taking the knee? Check. Monkey chants for England players? Check. Throwing stuff on the pitch? Check. There were few things expected last night, and they all happened. And now, FIFA must do what is expected of them. If they want to do it. Last night’s clean and big England win over Hungary (4-0) was overshadowed by racial abuse of the home fans, the same ones which were urged by the national team coach and the players not to do it. Both Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham were the subjects of monkey chants aimed from the home support behind home goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi’s goal in the second half. Rice Rice Baby💜💙⚒💙💜#declanrice pic.twitter.com/6AGsdx81Cy— E13 DRG ⚒ (@danlar101) September 2, 2021 Goals from Sterling, Rice, Kane and Maguire were more than enough for the England win, but, as expected, the real ‘game’ was off the pitch. The players were booed when taking the knee before the game (like they did in England) and were racially abused (like in England). Since they couldn’t do anything else when the fans started to abuse them (exept for maybe leave the field), the English players decided to look at the bright side and use their natural humor. When Sterling opened the scoring in the 55th minute, plastic cups thrown by home supporters started to fly, as he celebrated his goal. Declan Rice ran over to hug Sterling, picked up one of the cups and pretended to drink from it before throwing it back on the ground in defiance.🗣”I am sorry that happened.” Hungary head coach Marco Rossi apologises for the racist abuse that England players faced last night. pic.twitter.com/T6ZuyLotat— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 3, 2021 The match had been place on a ‘red list’ by FIFA due to a high risk of racist and homophobic abuse following conduct by Hungary supporters during their Euro 2020 campaign this summer, which saw the team handed a three-match stadium ban by UEFA after incidents against France and Portugal. England boss condemned the supporters behavior and demanded action from FIFA, but was keen not to accuse all Hungarian fans, because, „its a very similar situation to the one we find at home I think“. „There’s no more this group can do in the fight against racism. We are trying to uphold our part of it and other people have to take the right action to try and make progress. It’s for other people – and me in the main – to protect the players but the authorities as well. They shouldn’t have to be subjected to any forms of racism. Our head of security has spoken with he players and taken their statements and we will deal with it in the right way, through the right channels. But it’s not fair to criticise all the Hungarian fans, its a very similar situation to the one we find at home I think. The individuals that are responsible need to be dealt with, I think there’s evidence of people being filmed and we have to hope it’s defat with in the right way. The world is changing and although some people are stuck in their prejudices, they are going to be the dinosaurs in the end because the world is modernising“ said England coach.
