SHAMED Racist thugs are hit for six by defiant Lions
(right), RYAN GIGGS and Daniel James have been slammed for exploiting concussion rules in Wales’ Euro 2020 qualifying clash with Croatia.
Brain injury charity Headway have blasted the pair after the Wales boss
revealed the winger from JEREMY CROSS in Sofia
ENGLAND defied vile racist abuse to thrash Bulgaria on a night of shame for football.
Gareth Southgate’s men all but sealed qualification for Euro 2020 with a convincing win.
But the game was overshadowed by the shocking behaviour of home supporters who nearly forced the players to leave the pitch.
The game was being played in the partially closed Vasil Levski Stadium as a result of UEFA punishing the Bulgarian FA for two previous acts of racist behaviour. But it appeared to make play-acted following a clash with Domagoj Vida to earn his side a breather in the 1-1 draw in Cardiff on Sunday.
James (pictured) appeared to be out for the count and officials called for a stretcher.
But Giggs said: “He was smart. When the physios came over there was no problem. He stayed down and was a bit streetwise. He told the doctors, ‘I’m not moving, I’m just sitting still’.
“He was just using his nous. He passed all the concussion tests at half-time.”
But Headway chief executive Peter McCabe said: “To all watching, it appeared that Daniel James lost
no difference and the toxic showdown had to be halted twice before half-time, after several Three Lions stars reported incidents of racist abuse – including monkey chanting to referee Ivan Bebek - with some fans also appearing to make Nazi salutes.
The Croatian official stopped the match on 27 minutes and England boss Gareth Southgate was involved in discussions with the referee and fourth official before the PA announcer made a plea to the crowd for the abuse to stop.
But the bile continued to rain down on Southgate’s stunned stars, including Tyrone Mings, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, and Bebek halted the action once again to discuss the next step of UEFA’s official three-step protocol.
But following long discussions between Southgate, skipper Harry Kane, FA chairman Greg Clarke and UEFA delegates, England decided to continue playing.
On the pitch the Three Lions cantered to victory thanks to goals from Rashford, Kane and two each from Ross Barkley and Sterling, but the night will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and a UEFA investigation is expected to begin within the next 24 hours.