Boris blasts football chiefs for race shame
They’re ‘not stamping out abuse England stars faced’
BORIS Johnson led an attack against European football’s governing body yesterday amid widespread outrage at the racist abuse suffered by the England team in Bulgaria.
In a letter to UEFA, the PM called for its investigation into the incident to be speeded up, criticising its past disciplinary efforts.
Mr Johnson said: ‘The vile racism we saw and heard [on Monday] night has no place in football or anywhere else. I fully support Gareth Southgate and the team for rising above it.’
His spokesman added: ‘UEFA need to face up to facts. This stain on football is not being adequately dealt with. Racism and discrimination must be driven out of football once and for all.’ The backlash erupted after Southgate’s team endured a torrent of vile abuse, including monkey chants and Nazi salutes, during their Euro 2020 qualifying match, which they won 6-0.
Despite two ends of the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia being closed because of previous racist incidents, the match had to be stopped on two occasions due to the chanting.
England players, who were dubbed the ‘Malcolm X generation’ by former star Ian Wright for their response, said the horrific scenes should be used as a catalyst to eradicate racism.
Southgate described the episode as ‘unacceptable’ but said his team, who he claimed have been hardened by racism suffered in the UK, decided to play on during discussions at halftime. This came after an official procedure to abandon the game had been initiated due to complaints by England’s stars, forcing two temporary stoppages.
UEFA yesterday announced it had opened disciplinary proceedings against both teams over the match. It charged the Bulgarian Football Union over racist behaviour but the English Football Association was also charged after England fans jeered during the opposition’s national anthem.
FA chairman Greg Clarke described the game as ‘one of the most appalling nights I’ve seen in football’.
UEFA has faced repeated criticism for failing to use its toughest punishments to fight racism, including abandoning games and imposing bans on teams. Instead, it has opted for lighttouch measures, including partial stadium closures and handing out measly fines.
Yesterday, Bulgaria’s football chief Borislav Mihailov was forced to quit after prime minister Boyko Borisov called for him to go. Before the game, Mr Mihailov complained to UEFA that its supporters had been subject to ‘unjust branding’ after England stars threatened to walk off if racially abused.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin yesterday said his body needed more support from governments and charities to combat racism, saying it was ‘committed to doing everything it can to eliminate this disease’.