Bulgaria racism furore Q&A: What happens next and how could a potential Bulgarian ban impact on home nations?
As Uefa prepares to launch fresh racism sanctions against Bulgaria, Telegraph Sport explores how the saga will unfold, and whether punishments against the nation will have consequences for England.... and even Scotland.
What happens next?
Uefa have been taking evidence from three undercover spotters as well as the match officials and will announce details of a formal investigation later on Tuesday afternoon.
The charges against Bulgaria will be a breach of "Article 14 Racism and other discriminatory conduct" and the nation could face the harshest sanctions given the abuse on Monday night was not a first offence for its football federation.
According to the Uefa rules: "Any subsequent offence is punished with more than one match behind closed doors, a stadium closure, the forfeiting of a match, the deduction of points and/or disqualification from the competition.. If the circumstances of the case require it, the competent disciplinary body may impose additional disciplinary measures on the member association or club responsible, such as the playing of one or more matches behind closed doors, a stadium closure, the forfeiting of a match, the deduction of points and/or disqualification from the competition."
Uefa's control, ethics and disciplinary body is also reviewing evidence from television footage and CCTV. Greg Clarke, the Football Association chairman, said on Monday night that security staff from his organisation would gather witness statements, and Uefa would also look at these if submitted.
How bad is Bulgaria's record on racism?
It's among the worst in global football. Monday's match was played in a partially closed stadium following Bulgaria fans' racist behaviour at games against Kosovo and Czech Republic in June, while, in August, Bulgarian club sides PFC Levski Sofia and PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv were punished by Uefa for racism during Europa League games. In 2013, the nation was forced to play a World Cup qualifier behind closed doors and fined £23,685 after fans were alleged to have made monkey chants at Denmark defender Patrick Mtiliga. Two years earlier Bulgaria were fined £35,000 after fans racially abused England’s Ashley Young, Ashley Cole and Theo Walcott during a Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia.
How could a potential ban impact upon the home nations?
England may be opposed to an immediate tournament exclusion for Bulgaria as Gareth Southgate's side have already played them twice, and won handsomely.
An overall +10 goal difference racked up by home and away victories could play a major part in deciding England's seeding for the tournament draw.
Any expulsion could either mean the nations remaining in the group would automatically be granted 3-0 home and away victories, or, worse, that the points and goal difference would be wiped altogether.
Scotland will also be monitoring events closely as they are currently in "Path C" of a Uefa Nations play-off that could see them pitted Bulgaria, Israel or Romania.
What do anti-discrimination campaigners believe will happen?
Kick It Out and Fare, which had undercover racism spotters in the stadium, are calling for Uefa to expel Bulgaria immediately.
Fare claimed on Tuesday that many of the perpetrators of the racist abuse directed towards England players in Sofia were stewards and stadium security staff. “At least 20 people” removed staff bibs before joining the group that led the abuse, the spotters have said.
Kick It Out, meanwhile, said in statement: “It’s now time for UEFA to step up and show some leadership. For far too long, they have consistently failed to take effective action. The fact Bulgaria are already hosting this game with a partial stadium closure for racist abuse shows that UEFA’s sanctions are not fit for purpose. There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans. If UEFA care at all about tackling discrimination – and if the Equal Game campaign means anything – then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow.”
What sort of punishments have been issued in the past?
The three-step Uefa anti-racism protocols were launched in a resolution at Uefa Congress in London in 2013. No game has yet been abandoned under the protocol. No team at club or national team level has yet had points deducted or been disqualified over an offence of racism. One of the most severe punishments to date was the decision in July 2015 to impose a two-match stadium closure on the Croatian federation. That sanction was imposed because a Nazi swastika had been burned onto the pitch before a match against Italy in Split, which was already being played behind closed doors because of a previous offence.
The Montenegrin association was ordered to play a match behind closed doors and fined 20,000 euros after its supporters were found guilty of racially abusing England players during a qualifier in March. Tottenham defender Danny Rose said he was "lost for words" at the leniency of the sanction and added: "It's a bit shocking but there's not much I can do now. I just hope I don't ever have to play there again and we just have to move on now."
