UEFA have brought charges of ‘racist behaviour’ against Montenegro after several England players were taunted during Monday night’s Euro 2020 qualifier between the two sides in Podgorica.
Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi all spoke out after the match, all reacting with impressive restraint while describing being racially heckled and taunted by pockets of Montenegrin fans throughout the match.
Sterling also flashed an ironic ‘monkey ears’ celebration at the ultras behind the goal after slotting in England’s fourth goal of the game.
UEFA announces charges against Montenegro including racism by fans towards England players. Minimum sanction is partial stadium closure: pic.twitter.com/tY1SP6SQQq
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) 26 March 2019
The case will be heard in two months’ time, so justice is not going to be swift.
According to Times journalist Martyn Ziegler, the minimum sanction that Montenegro will face is partial stadium closure though, as we’ve seen so many times in the past, that’s unlikely to bring about any long-term change.
The saddest prospect is that setting off pyro or blocking staircases will probably incur a more serious punishment than the blatant, pig-ignorant racism.