LAST UPDATE | 13 Oct 2021
FIFA HAS OPENED disciplinary proceedings in relation to the disturbances which marred England’s World Cup qualifier against Hungary on Tuesday night, and the violent scenes at the Albania versus Poland match in the same group.
Hungary fans clashed with police at Wembley after officers entered the stand to arrest an individual for a racially aggravated public order offence in relation to comments directed at a steward.
The Metropolitan Police described what happened as “minor disorder”.
The Albania versus Poland game in Tirana was temporarily suspended. Bottles were thrown on to the pitch after Karol Swiderski scored for Poland in the 77th minute.
Football’s world governing body said in a statement: “Following an analysis of the match reports, Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings in relation to yesterday’s England v Hungary and Albania v Poland Fifa World Cup qualifier matches.
“Once again, Fifa strongly condemns the incidents at both matches and would like to state that its position remains firm and resolute in rejecting any form of violence as well as any form of discrimination or abuse. Fifa has a very clear zero-tolerance stance against such abhorrent behaviour in football.”
Hungary were ordered to play two matches behind closed doors, one suspended for two years, over the racist behaviour of their fans during the qualifier against England in Budapest last month.
Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham were targeted with monkey chants during the match on 2 September, which England won 4-0.
In July, European football’s governing body Uefa imposed a two-match stadium ban on the Hungarian federation following an investigation into the behaviour of their supporters during Euro 2020 matches in Budapest and Munich.
There was strong condemnation in the wake of last night’s violent clashes at Wembley; a senior member of the UK’s governing Conservative Party saying that football has a racism problem.
Oliver Dowden, Conservative Party co-chairman and former sports secretary, described the incidents as “deeply disturbing”.
“I know that the FA (English Football Association) will be investigating this fully and engaging with Fifa as well,” Dowden told ITV. “There’s clearly still an underlying problem with racism in football.”
