Beasts replace the beauty of the magical Magyars
THE Magical Magyars On Tour read one banner at Wembley last night. Tour cancelled due to easily foreseen circumstances. Don’t bother coming back until you learn how to behave.
After the shame brought on a onceproud footballing nation by their supporters at the Puskas Arena last month – when racist abuse was hurled at England’s players in Budapest – came a mini-riot at Wembley.
Baton-wielding police were attacked and beaten into retreat by the surging mob of fans in the Hungary section as the ugly scenes continued for the first five minutes of the match.
The majority emptied out of their seats and massed together in the first few rows.
UEFA ordered Hungary to play three home games behind closed doors after their supporters’ racist behaviour at the summer’s Euros.
There must now be a ban on away fans too until Hungary sort out their act.
The neo-Nazi element of their support is a stain on their nation.
The fighting started when officers entered the stand to arrest a spectator for racially abusing a steward just after England’s taking of the knee before kick-off was jeered by the visiting fans.A perimeter advert at the stadium last night read: ‘England celebrates Black History Month’. It is clear Hungary – or at least the louts who claim to represent them – do not.
The jeering for the gesture was drowned out by rapturous applause and a standing ovation from England fans.
It was not so long ago the taking of the knee was being booed by England fans in Middlesbrough.
And it was only three months ago that Wembley was being stormed by drunken, drugged-up louts on Euros final day. In international football there is no monopoly on morons – Gareth Southgate, left, has pointed out.
But there was no doubt who was in the wrong last night.
After a terrible run since the Euros, Hungary showed lots of fight on the pitch and caused England problems but they were let down off it.
When Hungary took the lead through Roland Sallai’s penalty, the delirious travelling fans celebrated with the lighting of a green flare which briefly brought an eerie fog to proceedings.
Perversely, England will be punished by FIFA for that as hosts.
Hungary, though, should be in hot water for the disorder which disfigured the occasion and again brought the Magyars name into sad disrepute.