Declan Rice has called for action to be taken after members of the England team were subject to racist abuse in Budapest.
Gareth Southgate’s team ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against Hungary to make it four wins in four matches in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers but it was the action of some fans that grabbed the headlines.
Audible abuse could be heard from large sections of the home crowd and West Ham midfielder Rice has called for punishments to be handed out.
“We knew before the game it would be a hostile place to come, we spoke about what could potentially happen,” Rice told ITV after the match.
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“As players, we didn’t hear it but if we did there were protocols in place, but we didn’t hear nothing. It’s disgraceful, I said in the last interview that something needs to happen, they can keep doing stadium bans and there’s protocols in place.
“But, it can’t keep happening every time we’re away from home, in these types of countries.”
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On the pitch, Rice capped a fine display off with the fourth goal, his second in 25 international caps, and the midfielder was delighted to get on the scoresheet even if it was following a goalkeeping error.
“I’ve got to claim it [the goal] you know, the goalkeepers made a mistake and I don’t score often so I’ve got to take that one,” he said.
“I’m happy to score, the ‘keeper obviously made a mistake, but to score and put one in the back of the net is always good,” Rice added to FATV.
“Everyone’s saying it was an own-goal, but I’m taking it. I don’t score a lot and it was my 25th cap, so to score on that was a really proud moment for me.”
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Rice was not the only England player to call on UEFA to take action. Three Lions captain Harry Kane admitted he was not aware of the racist chants but hopes punishments will be handed out if the abuse is proven.
Kane said: “I didn’t hear [the chants], it’s something I’ll talk to the boys and see if they heard any of it, we’ll report it to UEFA as the rules permit and if it is the case hopefully UEFA comes down strong.”
https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/declan-rice-england-racist-abuse-21473703
