England race abuse: Players praised
The boss of a North-East charity which uses football to tackle racism has spoken of his shock at the abusive behaviour of Bulgaria fans during Monday’s European Championship clash with England.
Ged Grebby, chief executive of Show Racism the Red Card, the UK’ s largest anti-racism educational charity, has also praised Gareth Southgate’s side for the way they responded to sickening Nazi salutes and monkey chants aimed at black players during their 6-0 victory.
Mr Grebby said: “I was shocked when I saw it unfold because the Bulgarian Football Association had told us there was no problem there and any problems in Russia had been contained during the World Cup in 2018.
“But the Nazi salutes and monkey chants were there for all to see.
“On the positive side, I think England did exactly right.
Tyrone Mings alerted the officials after hearing the chants and the stadium announcer has asked for them to stop.
“I would not have blamed the players if they had gone off. But it seems they discussed it at half-time and decided that walking off would have given the message that racism has won.”
The abuse suffered by Mings and England’s other black players followed just 24 hours after Show Racism the Red Card’s head coach, Sunderland legend Gary Bennett, recalled monkey chants he endured after he was sent off in a derby at Newcastle United in 1985.
While stressing that problemsof racism in football have improved since then, Bennett also criticised today’s football authorities worldwide for imposing larger fines to clubs for fielding ineligible players and wearing incorrect advertising logos than for abusive behaviour by terrace yobs.
Last month, Hartlepool United’s home game with Dover Athletics awa police investigation launched into alleged racist abuse from fans aimed at visiting players.
Mr Grebby believes that football world governing body Fifa and the Bulgarian FA need to do more to educate fans about the evils of racism.
Show Racism the Red Card’s fifth Wear Red Day, in which people are encouraged to wear red to support the charity, takes place this Friday.