Football’s world governing body says it has opened disciplinary proceedings over the racist abuse of England players during a World Cup qualifier match against Hungary.
“Following analysis of the match reports, FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings concerning the incidents last night at the game Hungary-England,” the body said in a statement.
“Once again, FIFA would like to state that our position remains firm and resolute in rejecting any form of racism and violence as well as any other form of discrimination or abuse. We have a very clear zero-tolerance stance against such abhorrent behaviour in football,” it added.
The announcement comes hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for “strong action” from FIFA.
The Three Lions were jeered for taking a knee before the start of the game — a gesture denouncing racism — and were pelted with plastic cups after goals.
England manager Gareth Southgate said after the clash — which ended in a 4-0 victory for England — that his players, including 18-year-old Jude Bellingham, “should not have to endure this suffering.”
He added that he had not personally seen the racist abuse and that he did not believe that all Hungarian fans were involved — but that those who were should not be excused. Garreth was pelted with ice during his interview.
England’s Football Association described it as “extremely disappointing to hear reports of discriminatory actions towards some of our England players.”
“We will be asking FIFA to investigate the matter,” It added.
The Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) said on Friday that “the vast majority of the 60,000 fans visiting the Puskas Arena were sporting, encouraging the Hungarian national team, even when the team was already losing.”
“It is in their defense that the disruptors need to be identified and severely punished.”
“Fans entering the field, throwing light grenades and glasses, are being identified. The MLSZ has filed/will file a police report against them. Any fine will be passed on to the perpetrators in civil litigation, and they can expect a two-year disqualification from sporting events at the end of the trial,” it added in a statement.
Marco Rossi, who manages the Hungarian national team, had urged supporters not to behave that way before the match.
Hungary had been ordered to play its next two matches in front of an empty stadium by the UEFA — Europe’s governing body for football — following this summer’s Euro championships because of racist and homophobic abuse observed during games held in Budapest.
Earlier, British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson had described as “disgraceful” racist abuse aimed at England players by Hungary fans during a World Cup qualifier.
“It is completely unacceptable that England players were racially abused in Hungary last night,” he wrote on Twitter.
Johnson urged FIFA to take “strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good.”
British broadcasters reported that Black England players were targeted with racial abuse by some Hungary supporters during Thursday’s World Cup qualifier in Budapest that England won 4-0.
ITV and Sky Sports said their reporters heard monkey chants being aimed at England forward Raheem Sterling and substitute Jude Bellingham.
During the game, Hungarian fans threw plastic cups towards England players and a flare also landed on the field, and the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) said any fans identified would face legal action.
But it did not address the racism allegations.
“We need to identify the troublemakers and strictly punish them in order to protect these fans,” the MLSZ said in a statement on its website.
“The fans who threw flares and cups on the pitch are being identified. The Hungarian Football Federation will report/has already reported them to the police,” they said, adding that those responsible faced a two-year ban.
