Bulgaria goalkeeper Plamen Iliev has played down the racist abuse heard during England’s defeat of Bulgaria – claiming the Three Lions players ‘overreacted’ at the Vasil Levski Stadium on Monday night.
The Three Lions secured a dominant 6-0 win in Sofia, but the celebrations were marred with the game twice halted after racist chanting was reported.
Following UEFA’s anti-racism protocols, an announcement was made in the 28th minute warning fans that any further incidents could result in the match being abandoned, while another pause before half-time only added to the nasty spectacle.
England decided at half-time to play the remainder of the game as braces from Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling and goals for Marcus Rashford and Kane ensured a thumping win for the visitors.
A three-step protocol from the governing body would have allowed the officials to take the teams off for a break in play as a second measure – before ultimately taking the final step of abandoning the game.
However, Iliev echoed the sentiments of his manager Krasimir Balakov and claimed to not hear any bad language from the home supporters.
“If I am honest, I believe they [the fans] behaved well today,” Iliev said. “There wasn’t any abuse [as far as I could hear] and I think they [the England players] overreacted a bit.
“The public was on a good level – I didn’t hear any bad language used towards their or our players.”
Balakov, who had suggested before the game that England had a bigger problem with racism than Bulgaria, said after the defeat: “I personally did not hear the chanting.
“I saw the referee stopped the game but I also have to say the behaviour was also not only on behalf of the Bulgarian fans but also the English fans, who were whistling and shouting during the Bulgarian national anthem.
“During the second half they used words against our fans which I find unacceptable.”
Captain Harry Kane called for ‘stronger punishments’ from UEFA and questioned whether or not the ‘three-step’ protocol was a strong enough deterrent.
“Whether the UEFA protocol is strong enough, I am not sure,” he said.
“Whether any racial abuse should be allowed at any time… well it shouldn’t be.
Adam Catterall says England players should have walked off against Bulgaria
“The protocol at the moment allows there to be an announcement and two or three steps before the players are taken off the pitch.
“It is unacceptable to be racist once so I feel there can be stronger punishments and protocols but from our point of view as a team, we stuck together, showed unity and did what we had to and that is the most important thing.”
