Kane Confirms English Team Meeting Amid Possible Racist Incidents in Serbia
England’s star striker, Harry Kane, has confirmed that the England squad players held a meeting to discuss the team’s response to the possibility of receiving racist insults during the World Cup qualifying match against Serbia.
Kane stated that they will follow UEFA protocol in case any incident occurs in Tuesday’s match in Belgrade.
The Serbian Football Federation issued a statement urging its fans to maintain good behavior, after a series of problems that resulted in fines of more than 700,000 euros in the last five years, due to “various prohibited behaviors, insults and discrimination from the stands during the matches of the national team and other teams”.
In the Euro 2024 match, UEFA investigated reports of discriminatory chants by Serbian fans, although sources close to Alofoke Deportes indicated that there were no complaints from the English team at that time.
Due to its history, 15% of the Stadion Rajko Mitic will be closed during the match against England.
The general secretary of the Serbian Football Federation, Branko Radujko, addressed the fans in the match day program, saying: “We are still under special supervision from UEFA. Any inappropriate reaction, insult or incident could cost us dearly on our road to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, including the possibility of having to play a decisive match with Albania behind closed doors.”
“For that reason, I make a sincere and serious call: let’s encourage from the heart, but let it be fair.”Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty ImagesSpeaking on Monday after his arrival in Serbia, Kane stated: “We had a meeting and discussed the protocols from UEFA’s point of view. I don’t think we like to talk too much about it. Our concentration is on the match. Our focus is on trying to beat Serbia on the field. Anything can happen, of course, and we are prepared for that, but in the end we are not thinking about that.”
“We are thinking about football, about the game, as the Serbian Federation said, it’s about enjoying, being respectful, enjoying the game, and we hope it will be like that tomorrow.”
The UEFA’s three-step protocol in case of discrimination during a match is to stop the game with a public warning, suspend the match for a period of time, and ultimately abandon the match if the situation has not changed.
Kane was captain in October 2019 when England suffered racist insults in Bulgaria and, when asked if he was prepared to take the players off the field in Serbia, the Bayern Munich striker replied: “We are prepared to do what UEFA protocols allow us to do. I think we handled that situation in Bulgaria really well. And it won’t be different.”
“These are things that are difficult to talk about now, because we don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. But in the end, as I said, we are prepared. We had a discussion as a group so that, in case it happens, we are prepared to do what is necessary.”
England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, commented: “I didn’t speak to the players about that, but the people in charge at the FA spoke to us about it, yes. We are aware. And even so, I always believe in the good. I always believe that we will have a high-level sporting competition and we will celebrate sport for what it is.”
“We are aware of the protocols, but I don’t want to focus too much on that because I believe in the beauty of sport and the beauty of the game. May we have a respectful and emotional match tomorrow.”
England received some criticism after their 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday, but Tuchel, who has won all four official matches to date, insisted that he still enjoys the job he started as successor to Gareth Southgate in January.
“It’s a privilege,” he said. “It’s not difficult, it’s a dream and it’s a challenge that I wanted, and it’s a privilege that they offered me this opportunity.”
“I can assure everyone that, as on the first day, I will do everything, really everything, to succeed.”
“I love every minute. It comes with scrutiny, it comes with criticism, and it comes, of course, with many opinions. That’s normal.”
“But the job itself, and the people around me and working with the players is a privilege and a dream.”
Marc Guéhi has overcome a groin problem and Tuchel will have everyone available as England look to consolidate their place at the top of Group K.
