Xtra Time Web Desk: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday strongly condemned the racist abuse being targeted at England footballers during their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Hungary at Budapest. The England players were booed when they took a knee prior to the World Cup Qualifier.
Boris Johnson called for a strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good. He tweeted, “It is completely unacceptable that @England players were racially abused in Hungary last night. I urge FIFA to take strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good.”
Meanwhile Football Association has called on FIFA to investigate the chants which were aimed at Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham, and world football’s governing body is awaiting a report from officials who were present at the Puskas Arena before launching an investigation and taking “adequate actions”.
There were “sporadic monkey chants from various areas of the crowd, directed primarily towards Raheem Sterling when he has touched the ball – and including when he set up Harry Kane for the second goal.
FIFA have said in a statement: “First and foremost, FIFA strongly rejects any form of racism and violence and has a very clear zero tolerance stance for such behaviour in football.
“FIFA will take adequate actions as soon as it receives match reports concerning yesterday’s Hungary-England game.
The FA also released a statement after the game which read: “It is extremely disappointing to hear reports of discriminatory actions towards some of our England players.
“We will be asking FIFA to investigate the matter. We continue to support the players and staff in our collective determination to highlight and tackle discrimination in all its forms.”