Football: Bulgaria handed heavy fine and sanctions following supporters' racist abuse of England players

Bulgarian 'fans' during the clash with England earlier this month. Photo credit: Reuters

Bulgaria have been ordered to play their next competitive home match behind closed doors and pay a 75,000 euro (NZ$122,000) fine after some of their supporters were guilty of racist abuse of England players.

England's 6-0 win over Bulgaria in the Euro 2020 qualifier played in Sofia on October 15, was halted twice after fans taunted visiting black players with Nazi salutes.

Since the incident, Bulgaria Football Union (BFU) president Borislav Mihaylov and the team's head coach Krasimir Balakov have resigned, and authorities have identified 16 suspects and made 12 arrests.

The sanction will affect Bulgaria's qualifier against the Czech Republic on November 17.

European football's governing body UEFA also imposed a further one-match stadium ban, suspended for two years and ordered the BFU to display a banner with words "No to Racism" with a UEFA logo on it.

Bulgaria was also fined a further 10,000 euros for causing disturbance during the national anthem, with England to pay 5,000 euros for the same offence.

Reuters 

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