Bulgaria will still be able to invite thousands of children to their next Euro 2020 qualifier despite a Uefa punishment insisting the match is played behind closed doors.
The Bulgarian Football Union were fined €75,000 in addition to a two-match stadium ban – one game longer than usual but with the second match suspended during a two-year probationary period – in response to racist abuse suffered by several England players during their 6-0 win in Sofia earlier this month.
However, Uefa rules brought in this season dictate that “children up to the age of 14 (duly accompanied) from schools and/or football academies” can attend free of charge.
Bulgaria play the Czech Republic on November 17 and there could be a similar situation to Wolves’ Europa League clash at Slovan Bratislava last week, which was officially played ‘behind closed doors’ but 20,000 children turned up to cheer on the home side.
Kick It Out’s Head of Development Troy Townsend believes the sanction highlights Uefa’s lack of understanding on the issue.
“They haven’t really got a hold or understanding of the impact of racism,” he told talkSPORT.
“There would have been a board that sat whenever they did that made this decision that never had to experience what happened that night [and] have no empathy around what it means to black players to have fans monkey chanting at them.
“Bulgaria have no real punishment. People will say they will miss the proceeds from a half-packed stadium but that is no deterrent because it has proved to be no deterrent in the past.
“I don’t think Bulgaria should be in the next Nations League because that’s the next UEFA competition. If we are really going to punish, we punish by making sure they are excluded from competition.”
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