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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Prague
England director Gareth Southgate says that he understands the Bulgarian football authorities fury at suggestions racism could overshadow Mondays Euro 2020 qualifier.
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham said on Wednesday Englands players would be ready to walk off if they suffered abuse that was similar to that directed during the qualifier at Montenegro of March.
Southgate, speaking earlier Fridays interview with the Czech Republic, has held a meeting describing the official three-step Uefa protocol to tackling episodes – but Englands concerns prompted an angry reaction.
In a letter to Uefa, he predicted Englands remarksthe unjust branding of local audiences as individuals prone to discriminatory behaviour.
Mondays game against Bulgaria will be played together with 5,000 of the 46,000 chairs to be left racist behaviour by Bulgaria enthusiasts against Kosovo along with the Czech Republic in June, in a stadium that is partly closed, some thing Mihaylov does not address in his letter.
But, Southgate said:I can totally understand why the Bulgarian president feels like he does since we have purely been reacting honestly to questions weve been requested.
That has been around Bulgaria in whatever manner it has been relayed and how it has been pitched might seem provocative, or we are the people laying the topic on the table.
Therefore, if I was him, and I was only reading those quotes rather than understanding the context of why what were mentioned and the answers, I would feel probably as he can.
We are not trying to make a situation in any respect, away from it. We are all hoping that within the next 72 hours we speaking about two soccer games.
I believe both countries would have a strong desire for that and I must say again, we do not look at other nations in a way that we dont glow a mirror in our.
Southgate stated:What happened in Hartlepool a couple of weeks back was probably worse than things Ive heard or seen about in a number of different nations in the world. So, I think we must be quite careful in the way we cover everything.
There were allegations of racist abuse in Dover Athletic in September and a game between Hartlepool United.
Uefa protocol decrees in case of racist chanting the participant will request an announcement to be broadcast at the arena, and if he doesnt cease or she will take off the players, originally temporarily but permanently if needed.
Southgate included:The most significant thing for me personally was that each one of the players and each one of the staff know that theyre supported, which we are together on each problem moving forward and of course, inevitably, because we have endured a situation in Montenegro, we desired to be more clear what might happen if something else happened later on.
Were quite clear on that. Theres obviously the Uefa process and we will need to have faith in this process.
Lately, a game was stopped in Italy because of that and then whatever is hypothetical because we do not understand the problem that well be in as a team, or that Ill be in as a supervisor. However, were very clear concerning all the staff, what would have to happen. We need the players to be able to concentrate on football. They would like to be judged on their football and what Ive got to do is supply a secure and safe environment to play
England striker Raheem Sterling admitted the squad were not ready but now there must be faith in the system of Uefa.
He said:With the situation that occurred in Montenegro, I do not feel as a team we were quite prepared and understanding that there was a protocol in place.
We had a meeting as a team and Gareth sat us down and clarified Uefas routine and now, as players, weve got to give Uefa an opportunity to accept that obligation on board and manage the situation. But, yes, Ive got full liberty in Uefa.
England have maximum points in their four qualifiers and victory in Prague on Friday will affirm qualification for Euro 2020.
Read more here: http://www.olcayreklam.com/?p=26954