Abraham reveals England WILL defy Uefa and walk off pitch if they hear racist abuse in Euro 2020 qualifiers – The Sun
ENGLAND are ready to defy Uefa and walk off the pitch if they are racially abused during their Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Although Friday’s clash in the Czech Republic is considered low risk, England players fear the worst in Sofia on Monday after Uefa chiefs ordered Bulgaria to close off 5,000 seats because of racist abuse.
Three Lions skipper Harry Kane led a team meeting on Monday when he backed players to abandon either game if they are abused — even it means forfeiting the points.
Chelsea star Tammy Abraham said: “Harry Kane said if it happens we speak to the player and if he’s not happy, we all come off the pitch together.
“It’s a team thing. Don’t isolate one person, we’re a whole team. If it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.
“We would let the FA or whoever deal with whatever's next, the scores or what happens with the points.
“At the time, it's about making sure we're a team. We don't stand for it and we want the world to see that, that we don't stand for the silly abuse.”
UEFA have clear three-step guidelines if racial abuse is detected: 1. Stadium announcement calling for it to stop; 2. Temporary suspension of the game with a further announcement; 3. Abandonment of the match.
But Abraham insists the players are prepared to take matters in their own hands.
He added: “For me it’s just one strike because it gives people excuses. One time, twice, three times – it gives silly people excuses.
“Let's say there's a warning or whatever in the stadium, then it happens again, we have to make a decision as a team and with the staff.”
It’s a team thing. Don’t isolate one person, we’re a whole team. If it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.
England claimed they would not walk off the field after monkey chants were directed at various black England footballers in Montenegro.
But that stance has changed after Gareth Southgate’s squad joined up for Euro 2020 away games against Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Abraham added: “Harry Kane asked the question about going through the three steps.
“But if we decide we want to stop the game and we want to stop the game – no matter what the score is – if we’re not happy with it, as a team we'll decide whether or not to stay on the pitch.
“I do think it will happen. Watching the gaffer speaking, he was quite keen on putting a stop to it.
“No-one wants it in football. It's not just affecting one person, it's affecting the team.
“It's a team decision if we decide in the end that we don't want to play this game anymore because of what's going on, we'll come off as a team.”
Abraham spoke to team-mate Callum Hudson-Odoi when England were racially abused in Montenegro in March.
He added: “It’s not really the same on TV but to know what those guys were going through out there, it’s not acceptable.
“No-one wants to see that. You just want to see the beautiful game.
“If that happens and we do decide to leave the field, it’s serious.”
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