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Live R eporting
By Steve Sutcliffe
All times stated are UK
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(Simon:) Uefa Should make them [Bulgaria] play all qualifiers away from home for the next two qualifying tournaments and Nations League. Whoever is in there group would play them twice at home.Also no home friendlies during this same period.
Ryan:Has the country [England] forgotten that racism happens in our own country and stadiums? Raheem Sterling for example has been racially abused by fans and even highlighted in main stream media and the newspapers. Let’s get our own house in order first before banning teams.
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Southgate ‘incredibly proud’ of England players
Bulgaria 0-6 England
Video content
Video caption: Bulgaria v England: Gareth Southgate ‘incredibly proud’ of all England players -
‘Our player s walked off smiling ‘
Bulgaria 0-6 England
Copyright: Getty Images
I think it is accurate to say that England acted with character, dignity and professiona lism on Monday evening given the racist abuse they were subjected.
And it was nice to see a few smiles break out after they had wrapped up an emphatic victory and here’s a bit fromEngland manager Gareth Southgatespeaking to BBC Radio 5 Live (********************************************************************************:
“Nobody should have to experience what our players did. We followed the protocol. We gave two messages – one that our football did the talking and two, we stopped the game twice.
“That might not be enough for some people but we are in that impossible situation that we can’t give everyone what they want.
“But we gave the players what they wanted and the staff what that they wanted. Remarkably, after what we have been through, our players walked off smiling and that is the most important thing for me. “
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Post update
I wonder what the Bulgaria boss thought was happening when play was stopped twice and the tannoy announcements came on?
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‘I personally did not hear the chanting’
Bulgaria 0-6 England
Copyright: Getty Images
Bulgaria coach Krasimir Balakov was a brilliant player back in the day. I can remember him starring alongside Yordan Letchkov, Trifon Ivanov and Hristo Stoichkov at the World Cup in 1994.
But crikey did he have cloth in his ears on Monday night? He reckons he did not hear any racist chanting during his side’s (6-0 Euro) qualifier defeatby England
Balakov said he would be “trul y sorry if it did turn out to be true “but said there had been no such problems before.
“I personally did not hear the chanting,” Balakov said.
(Just read) this.Seriously.
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Post update
Bulgaria 0-6 England
England defender Tyrone Mings says he could hear the racist abuse “as clear as day” but “everybody made the decision” to continue the Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia.
Play washalted twice in the first halfbecause of abuse from supporters.
In line with Uefa protocol, England had the option to walk off the pitch but played the full (minutes andwon 6-0.
“I am very proud of everyone for the decisions we made, “Mings told BBC Radio 5 Live after his England debut.
You can read all about what he had to sayhere.
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Get Involved
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Matt:Ban them [Bulgaria] from qualifying for the next World Cup and Euros and make them play any friendlies in that time behind closed doors.
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‘Uefa haven’t done enough. It’s as simple as that ‘
Thanks for the comments already coming in this morning people.
Just in case you want to have a listen, here is former England international Stephen Warnock having his say on matters.
‘England make a powerful statement in Sofia’
(Bulgaria 0-6 England)
Copyright: Getty Images
Our chief football writer Phil McNulty was in Sofia and he reckons England made a powerful statement in Sofia as they delivered the most eloquent response in disgraceful, dispiriting circumstances of racism.
Gareth Southgate’s side, in the sporting context, needed to answer their first loss in 44 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Friday – but what they actually achieved went beyond this single game, will be of wider significance, and publicly tackled the scourge that still blights so many areas of society and the game itself.
You can read all of Phil’s take on eventshere.
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Patrice:It’s simple, just kick them out. You can’t have a ‘No tolerance’ policy that still allows anything less than large scale chanting because that’s not zero.
Anon:There is only one way to ensure behavior such as this ends, and that is to have closed door matches. Doesn’t matter if it’s Bulgaria or any other national team: If fans are unable to be respectful and, quite simply, decent human beings, they have no place in football.
Justin:Couldn’t believe what I was hearing when the Bulgaria team manager said he didn’t hear any racist chanting . Selective hearing at play there. Bulgaria should be banned for a long time to send a message. Fines are pointless
‘It was quite shocking to see what took place’
(Bulgaria 0-6 England)
Anti-discrimination group Fare said it had observers in the stadium who will report to Uefa and form part of the governing body’s investigation.
Fare’s executive director Piara Powar said “the fact that it was widespread racism cannot be in doubt “.” Given the debate that took place before this match, the focus on the Bulgarian fans and the widespread warnings that were issued, the concerns expressed by players, officials, it was quite shocking to see what took place, “he said.
“It seemed almost like the Bulgarian fans were determined to live up to the worst repre sentation of themselves. “
‘Proud we rose above it’
Bulgaria 0-6 England
‘Losers’
The Daily Express
(Express)Copyright: Express
‘Sofia Shame’
GuardianCopyright: Guardian
‘England face down the racists’
(Independent) **************
Copyright: i paper
‘Disgusting’
The Daily Telegraph
(Telegraph)Copyright: Telegraph
(Post update)
As you can imagine the rest of the national newspapers have unfortunately also had to concentrate on events that took place in the stands of the Vasil Levski Stadium …
(‘Kick em out’)
Daily Mirror
Need I say any more.
(Daily Mirror)Copyright: Daily Mirror
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‘Football’s night of shame’
When football reaches the front page it’s usually because of something wonderful or absolutely horrendous …
(Mirror)Copyright: Mirror
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(Post update)
Bulgaria 0-6 England
I mean how many times can you tell people this is unacceptable …?
A warning was played out over the tannoy before kick-off and then there were two more announcements during the first-half as the match was halted.
There were television pictures showing a man holding up a ‘no respect’ shirt aimed at Uefa and at half-time the Bulgarian captain Ivelin Popov came out to plead with the fans to behave themselves.
Things did improve but it wasn’t totally eradicated.
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