FA faces punishment from Fifa over fans’ discriminatory chants

England’s World Cup heroics have been tarnished by their own fans after Fifa confirmed it had begun disciplinary proceedings over “possible discriminatory” chants in their defeat by Croatia.

Football’s world governing body revealed it had received a report via its anti-discrimination monitoring system and had opened a case against the Football Association.

Fifa did not disclose the nature of the chants but cries of “No surrender” were clearly audible from the England end of the ground during the National Anthem at Wednesday night’s semi-final.

It has also been alleged to The

Daily Telegraph that there was some anti-islamic chanting and Nazi salutes in the same section of the Luzhniki Stadium. Fifa said: “A report has been filed through the anti-discrimination monitoring system in relation to chants of a possible discriminatory nature by English fans at yesterday’s match. Subsequently, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Football Association.”

It is unclear whether the “No surrender” chant – an anti-ira slogan – would be deemed a breach of Fifa rules on discrimination.

It has been shouted at every one of England’s World Cup matches, although not as audibly as on Wednesday at a match which was witnessed by far the largest following at the tournament for Gareth Southgate’s side. The chant has blighted England games for years but the FA has avoided being sanctioned over it despite the threat of a crackdown when Fifa’s anti-discrimination monitoring system was set up three years ago.

The presence of any Nazi salutes would be the second time fans would have been caught engaging in the sickening act in Russia after three fans were handed banning orders for the offence ahead of England’s opener against Tunisia.

British police in Moscow said last night that they were unaware of any discrimination at the game, disclosing a single arrest had been made at the match for an alleged assault.