Anti-racism body says England game should have been abandoned

Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out has criticised European football’s governing body UEFA for failing to abandon Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria after England’s black players were subjected to monkey chants.

The game was twice halted in the first half, first when England manager Gareth Southgate informed the UEFA delegate about incidents and a public announcement was made.

The abuse continued and the Group A match, which England went on to win 6-0, was again temporarily suspended by the referee under a three-step UEFA protocol for tackling abuse.

UEFA said it would announce possible disciplinary proceedings later on Tuesday or on Wednesday once it had received full reports from match officials.

Around 50 black-clad Bulgarian fans, some of whom were seen making Nazi salutes, left the stadium before halftime and the second half was completed without further stoppages.

Kick It Out said it was 'sickened by the disgusting racist abuse' and suggested UEFA should have taken stronger action.

“We are encouraged that the protocol was initially enforced by the match officials, but UEFA must explain why players weren’t sent to the dressing room during Step Two, as is clearly stated in the rules,” a statement read.

“TV footage also clearly shows that racist abuse continued in the second half, so it is unacceptable that Step Three was not enforced. This match should have been abandoned by the officials.

“It’s now time for UEFA to step up and show some leadership. For far too long, they have consistently failed to take effective action.”

The first step of UEFA’s protocol was enacted after 28 minutes when England defender Tyrone Mings was subjected to abuse and an announcement was made calling on supporters to stop using racist chants.

The second step, according to UEFA’s protocol, is for the players to be sent to the dressing rooms for a specified period.

This was never implemented in Sofia although UEFA said there had been a discussion with the England bench after the second incident and they had agreed to continue as it was so close to halftime.

Step three, according to UEFA, is “after consultation, abandon the match if the discriminatory behaviour still does not cease or breaks out again.”

UEFA is yet to comment officially on the incidents.

The threat of racism had dominated the buildup to the game and part of the stadium was empty after UEFA punished Bulgaria for racist behaviour by fans during June’s qualifiers against the Czechs and Kosovo.

Bulgarian supporters also made monkey chants at visiting black players when England last travelled to Sofia for a European qualifier in 2011, prompting UEFA to fine the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) 40,000 euros ($44,072).

Kick It Out said the punishments were futile.

“The fact Bulgaria are already hosting this game with a partial stadium closure for racist abuse shows that UEFA’s sanctions are not fit for purpose,” it said.

“There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans. If UEFA care at all about tackling discrimination — and if the Equal Game campaign means anything — then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow.”

Bulgarian soccer chief quits after racist chants mar England game

Bulgarian soccer chief Borislav Mihaylov resigned on Tuesday after fans taunted England's black players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia, prompting match officials to halt the game twice.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had called earlier for Mihaylov, a former goalkeeper and Bulgaria international, to go.

The fallout from what English FA chairman Greg Clarke described as "probably one of the most appalling nights I have seen in football" also triggered calls for urgent action from anti-racism campaigners and politicians.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said European governing body UEFA -- the tournament organisers -- needed to do more to tackle "vile" racism.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said, however, that soccer could not solve the problem on its own, and politicians must play a greater role.

"The football family -- everyone from administrators to players, coaches and fans -- needs to work with governments and NGOs to wage war on the racists and to marginalise their abhorrent views to the fringes of society," the Slovenian said in a statement.

"Football associations themselves cannot solve this problem. Governments too need to do more in this area. Only by working together in the name of decency and honour will we make progress."

Monday's match was temporarily halted by the Croatian referee under a three-step UEFA protocol, but the stoppage did not go far enough for some anti-racism activists who felt the England players should have walked off.

Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out said UEFA's existing sanctions were not fit for purpose and called for Bulgaria to be booted out.

"There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans. If UEFA care at all about tackling discrimination -- and if the Equal Game campaign means anything -- then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow," it said.

UEFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria on a number of charges including racist behaviour and the throwing of objects.

England were also charged for disruption of the national anthem and an insufficient number of travelling stewards.

Mihaylov had previously defended Bulgarian soccer from accusations of racism and criticised England for what he saw as a "fixation" on potential incidents that could raise tension.

His departure came just hours after a Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) spokesman said Mihaylov would not resign because the state had no right to interfere in football.

A later statement said that Mihaylov's formal resignation would be presented to the Executive Committee on Friday.

"His position is a consequence of recent tensions; an environment that is detrimental to Bulgarian football and the Bulgarian Football Union," it said.

Reuters was not able to reach Mihaylov by telephone on Tuesday.

More than 20 police officers swept into the (BFU) headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.

But the Bulgarian chief prosecutor's spokeswoman said that the operation was part of an investigation conducted by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, and so not directly related to the racism row.

"It's about crimes against sport," Rumyana Arnaudova told Reuters. "We're talking about corruption offences, connected to the work of the BFU's referee commission and the appointment of referees on football matches.

"The investigation is still under way and it's too early to say if there'll be some arrests."

Mihaylov, captain of the Bulgarian national team that made it to the World Cup semi-finals in 1994, has been heavily criticised by local media and soccer fans for failing to lead the BFU out of years of corruption and controversy.

Bulgaria have failed to qualify for a major tournament since 2004, while Mihaylov's tenure has been marred by allegations of cronyism. He has denied such allegations in the past.

There have been widespread reports of match-fixing in Bulgaria in recent years but little in the way of progress in holding anyone accountable.