Uefa sanction Bulgaria after racist abuse
Subs not used: to have been whacked off the line by Aaron Donnelly with the Linfield goalscorer certain it had gone over. TV replays suggested he was right. In the ensuing scramble Clarke and Millar had efforts but with the visitors throwing their bodies in the way somehow the scoreline remained 1-0.
There was an edge to this quarter-final with Reds sub Liam Bagnall putting himself about.
In the second period Cliftonville were a threat on the break but the best chances fell to Linfield late on with substitute Andy Waterworth hitting the post before the impressive Stephen Fallon fired the rebound over. BULGARIA have been ordered to play their next competitive home game behind closed doors with a further match suspended for two years following the racist behaviour of their fans during the Euro 2020 qualifier against England on October 14.
A section of supporters at the match in Sofia’s Levski Stadium directed racial abuse at England’s black players, while some were also seen making Nazi salutes.
The Bulgarian Football Union was also fined €75,000 (£64,641) for “the racist behaviour of its supporters and the throwing of objects”.
The sanction means Bulgaria’s qualifier against the Czech Republic on November 17 will be played behind closed doors.
The match against England was stopped in the 28th minute, and the first step of Uefa’s anti-racism protocol — a public address announcement calling on the abuse to stop — was enacted.
The abuse continued and Croatian referee Ivan Bebek halted the match again, though monkey chanting and booing directed at England’s players and staff could still be heard during the second half, but the match was completed with England winning 6-0.