England Disturbed by Bulgarian Football Hooligans' Racism

The black players of both England and Bulgaria were targetting by football hooligans with racism insults in Sofia. Photo by BGNES

England's Football Association has launched a complaint with UEFA and the Bulgarian Football Union over racist abuse during the Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia targeting the black players of both teams.

The news war reported by the British press early Saturday, stressing that the fits of racism by some of the Bulgarian fans in Sofia marred Friday night's match, which ended in a crushing 0:3 victory for England.

The papers in the UK point out there was a "repeated monkey chanting" from sections of the Bulgarian at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, especially directed against England players Chris Smalling, Ashley Cole, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott.

Several English players made it clear they were aware of the abuse hurled at them by the sections of the audience.

The racist abuse in question also targetted Bulgaria's naturalized Brazilian playmaker Marcos Marquinhos, who is also black after he came on as a substitute.

Bulgaria's head coach Lothar Matthaeus has been quick issue an apology on behalf of the Bulgarian Football Union with respect to the racist outbursts by some of the football hooligans.

"I can say it's pitiful when such things happen," Matthaus said at a post-match press conference.

"Because of that I would like to apologize on behalf of the Bulgarian Football Union."

The Telegraph even reports accusations that Bulgarian supporters were making Nazi salutes during the match in front of the 3,000 travelling England supporters.

The outbursts of the soccer hooligans in the Bulgarian capital continued after match, when a melee broke out between fans of the Bulgarian clubs Levski Sofia FC and CSKA Sofia, leading to arrests, the police announced Saturday morning.

Close to 10 000 police officers were mobilized to patrol all across Sofia during the Bulgaria-England match.

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