Kane says he would support ‘walk off’ over racial abuse
LONDON: England captain Harry Kane said he would support any of his teammates in walking off the pitch if there was any repeat of Monday’s racist abuse during their win in Montenegro.
UEFA have opened an investigation after England players Danny Rose, Raheem Sterling and Callum HudsonOdoi said they were victims of the abuse in Podgorica.
Teenager Hudson-Odoi said he had heard monkey chants during England’s 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifying victory.
The Football Association welcomed UEFA’s move after what it described as ‘abhorrent’ racist abuse.
“It’s terrible, its unacceptable, and I thought our players handled it so well and were so professional and focussed on their job and doing what they do best,” Kane told Sky Sports outside Buckingham Palace where he was receiving an MBE for services to football.
“Now it’s up to the people in charge to make sure the right action is taken because it’s not acceptable in football or any part of life.”
Asked if England’s players would walk off the pitch if there was a repeat, Kane said: “Yeah, well I’m supportive of my teammates and if it happened again and they weren’t happy and wanted to talk about it or take a breather I would fully back them,” the Tottenham Hotspur striker said.
“We are a team, a unit and we stick behind all of our players. Hopefully it will never happen again but if it did, I would take their lead on that and whatever they wanted we would support them in that.”
UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary panel will hear the case against Montenegro on May 16. — Reuters