England thrashed Bulgaria
6-0 to hand the hosts their heaviest ever home defeat but the game will be
remembered more for the racist incidents that led to action being temporarily
stopped in the first half.
Bulgaria coach Krasimir
Balakov has apologised to the England team after fans taunted their black
players with Nazi salutes and monkey chants during a Euro 2020 qualifier in
Sofia on Monday.
European soccer’s ruling
body UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Bulgaria over the racist
behaviour. While Balakov said after the game he had not heard any racist abuse
from the stands, in an email to reporters late on Tuesday he apologised for the
fans’ behaviour.
“I strongly condemn and
reject racism as a norm of conduct that contradicts modern human relations,”
Balakov said.
“This is a prejudice that
comes from the past that must be eradicated forever.
“I want to say something
very clear: given that there have been insults on such a basis, I, as a coach
of the national team, apologise to the English footballers
and all those who feel
hurt” he apologised.
Bulgarian Football Union
President Borislav Mihaylov resigned on Tuesday, a few hours after the Balkan
country’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov called
for the former
international goalkeeper to step down.
Mihaylov had previously
defended Bulgarian soccer from accusations of racism and criticized England for
what he saw as a “fixation” on potential
incidents that could raise
tension.
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