ALL LAST NIGHT’S CARABAO CUP ACTION DISGRACE
Bulgaria escape with 2-game ban and tiny £65,000 fine
KICK IT OUT want UEFA’S disciplinary process ripped up after Bulgaria escaped with a slap on the wrist for the racist abuse of England’s black players.
The Bulgarians have been ordered to play two games behind closed door – one of them suspended for two years.
They are already halfway through a two-game partial stadium ban for their conduct in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
European football’s governing body also imposed a £65,000 fine.
Anti-racism watchdogs slammed the weak punishment. Kick It Out said: “We feel UEFA’s entire disciplinary process in response to racial
cull following their humiliating drubbing at home to the Foxes on Friday – Oriol Romeu, James Ward-Prowse, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Jan Bednarek and Yan Valery handed the chance to make amends.
City supporters wasted no time in taunting their opposite numbers with chants of, “We want 10” moments after kick-off, imploring their side to subject the visitors to another crushing defeat.
Doyle drew applause from the home fans in the 15th minute with a smart turn to evade two opponents before being upended by Romeu as he released left-back Angelino.
As expected, City were in control from the start, pinging the ball around with an arrogant authority, and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 20th minute.
Doyle played a short corner to Phil Foden who in turn found Bernardo Silva. His cross was met by Nicolas Otamendi who got between Romeu and Bednarek to head his second goal of the season.
Aguero, restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench against Aston Villa on Saturday, came close to doubling City’s lead just after the half-hour mark as he sent a free-kick – won by Doyle – just wide.
But the Argentine made no mistake seven mintues before the break, finding himself unmarked and able to steer the ball in from close range to make it 2-0.
And the goal machine claimed his second in the 56th minute, poking ball in from a deflected Riyad Mahrez effort.
Jack Stephens headed home from a corner in the 75th minute to give Saints fans something to cheer as their side salvaged some pride. discrimination should be overhauled. We urge them to explain the decisionmaking process behind their sanctions for incidents of discrimination.
“We are disheartened, but not surprised, to learn of UEFA’s response to the racist abuse directed at England players.
“In our view, they have missed an opportunity to send an uncompromising message. The current sanctions, however ‘tough’ UEFA think they may be, are not working and leave victims with little faith in their ability to prevent abusive behaviour.”
Bulgaria fans aimed Nazi salutes and monkey chants at Gareth Southgate’s players during the Euro 2020 qualifier on October 15, which England won 6-0. The match was stopped twice in line with UEFA’s three-step protocol.
Bulgaria are bottom of Group A with three points from seven games and cannot qualify directly for next summer’s finals. But as things stand, they would be in line for a play-off spot due to results in the Nations League last year.
Liverpool’s England Under-21 striker Rhian Brewster, abused in a UEFA Youth League game against Spartak Moscow two years ago, tweeted: “Two Games behind closed doors for Nazi salutes and racism. The world needs to wake up.”
Anti-discrimination body Fare (Football Against Racism in Europe) insisted Bulgaria should be expelled from Euro 2020 qualifying “given their record and obvious inability to deal with the problems they face”.
A statement said: “We think the evidence and circumstances of this match would have justified European football being given a stronger signal on the need to tackle racism.”