Bulgarian
police have detained four
Football fans after England’s black players faced monkey chants and Nazi salutes at a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia on Monday.
The match – which
England won 6-0 – had to be stopped twice in the first half following racist chanting by home supporters. Meanwhile, fans were seen holding up “No Respect” hoodies with the Uefa badge sewn on.
In a statement on Wednesday, Bulgaria’s interior ministry revealed that four people had been detained in connection with the racist abuse and that more arrests were expected.
“An operation... is underway to identify and act on people who have committed indecent acts during a football match between the national teams of Bulgaria and England,” the ministry said on its website.
The news came as Fifa President Gianni Infantino proposed worldwide lifetime bans for those found guilty of racist behaviour.
“I call on all football governing bodies to join us and think together of new, stronger and more effective ways to eradicate
racism in football,” he said.
“As a starting point, I suggest that all competition organisers enact regulations which envisage life bans from stadiums for those who are found guilty of racist behaviour at a football match. Fifa can then enforce such bans at a worldwide level.”On Tuesday, Uefa charged the Bulgaria Football Union with racist behaviour, throwing objects and disruption of a national anthem following the game.
Meanwhile, the English Football Association was charged with disrupting a national anthem and having an insufficient number of travelling stewards.
In a statement, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin urged the “football family” to “wage war on the racists”.
Ceferin blamed a rise in nationalism across Europe for fuelling racism at matches and said the governing body was committed to eradicating the “disease” from football.
“Believe me, Uefa is committed to doing everything it can to eliminate this disease from football,” Ceferin said in a statement.
“We cannot afford to be content with this, we must always strive to strengthen our resolve.”
He added: “Football associations themselves cannot solve this problem. Governments too need to do more in this area.”
On Tuesday, following pressure from the country’s prime minister Boyko Borrisov, the president of the Bulgarian Football Union resigned.
Tweeting about the PM’s role in the resignation, England forward Raheem Sterling wrote: “A good move, credits to you M. Borrisov.” 🤝 a good move credits to you M. Borissov https://t.co/28dikRPhTE— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) October 15, 2019Related... Uefa Charges Bulgaria And England Over Behaviour At Euro 2020 Qualifier Bulgarian Football President Resigns After 'Vile' Racist Abuse During England Match