Racist abuse of England players in Bulgaria on UEFA's agenda at Monday meeting


UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will meet on Monday, with the racist abuse suffered by England players in Bulgaria earlier this month sure to be near the top of its agenda.

The Bulgarian Football Union faces multiple charges after the scenes in Sofia on October 14 - described in an FA statement as "abhorrent" - which almost saw an international team walk off the pitch, and not return, for the first time.

England were eventual 6-0 winners but, sadly, it was not their free-flowing football which made 99 per cent of the headlines.

Until now UEFA's reaction to incidents of racist abuse has been limited to the first half of their 18 point list of disciplinary measures - warnings, reprimands, fines (which can be up to a million euros), playing matches behind closed doors, full or partial stadium closures and playing a match in a third country.


Bulgaria supporters in the stands during the Euro 2020 qualifier vs England in Sofia

But there have been widespread calls since the events of October 14 for UEFA to use the tougher penalties their regulations also include.

Two of those are points deduction, although in this case that would do little to harm a Bulgaria side already long since out of the running for a place in Euro 2020 through their qualifying group.

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