England: Gareth Southgate understands Bulgaria reaction to racism concerns

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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Prague
England manager Gareth Southgate says that he knows the football authorities fury at suggestions racism could overshadow Mondays Euro 2020 qualifier.
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham said on Wednesday Englands players would be ready to walk away if they suffered abuse that was similar to that directed at them during the qualifier at Montenegro of March.
Southgate, talking before Fridays interview with the Czech Republic in Prague, has held a meeting explaining to handling incidents the official Uefa protocol – but the worries of England prompted an angry reaction from BFU president Borislav Mihaylov.
In a letter to Uefa, he predicted Englands opinionsthe unjust branding of local spectators as people inclined to discriminatory behaviour.
Mondays match against Bulgaria is going to be played at a closed stadium, together with 5,000 of the 46,000 seats to be left empty following behaviour by Bulgaria enthusiasts against Kosovo along with the Czech Republic in June, something Mihaylov does not address in his letter.
However, Southgate stated:I could totally understand why the Bulgarian president feels like he does because we have only been responding honestly to questions we have been asked.
That was relayed to Bulgaria in whatever manner its been relayed and the way it has been pitched might seem provocative, or we are the folks laying the topic onto the table.
Therefore, if I was him, and that I was just reading those quotes rather than understanding the context of why what were said and the responses, I would feel likely as he can.
We arent attempting to make a situation at all, far from it. Were all hoping that within the next 72 hours were just talking about two soccer games.
I believe both countries would have a powerful desire for this and I must say again, we dont look at other countries in a manner that we do not shine a mirror in our.
Southgate said:What occurred in Hartlepool a few weeks ago was probably worse than things Ive heard or seen about in many other countries in the world. So, I think we must be very careful in the way we cover everything.
There were allegations of racist abuse at Dover Athletic in September and a game between Hartlepool United.
Uefa protocol decrees that in the event of chanting the referee will ask for a statement to be broadcast in the stadium, and if he does not stop or she will take off the players, initially temporarily but permanently if needed.
Southgate included:The most important thing for me was that every one of the players and each of the staff understand that theyre supported, that we are together on each issue moving forward and then of course, necessarily, since we have endured a scenario in Montenegro, we desired to be clear what might happen if something else happened later on.
We are quite clear on that. There is of course the Uefa procedure and we need to have faith in that process.
Recently, a match has been discontinued in Italy because of that and then whatever is hypothetical because we do not know the scenario that we will be in as a team, or that Ill be a supervisor. But, were very clear in terms of each. We need the players to have the ability to focus on soccer. They would like to be judged in their football and what Ive got to do is provide a safe and secure environment to play.
England striker Raheem Sterling confessed that the squad werent prepared but now there must be religion in Uefas system.
He explained:Together with the situation that happened in Montenegro, I do not feel that as a group we were quite prepared and knowing there was a protocol in place.
We had a meeting as a group and Gareth sat us down and explained Uefas protocol and today, as gamers, weve got to give Uefa an opportunity to accept that responsibility on board and manage the situation. But, yes, I have full faith in Uefa.
England have maximum points and eligibility will be confirmed by victory at Prague on Friday .