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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matt Maltby

Liverpool's Rhian Brewster slams UEFA's "embarrassing" Bulgaria punishment for racism

Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster has slammed UEFA after Bulgaria were ordered to play their next game behind closed doors following the racist behaviour of their fans during the England match this month.

A further match has been suspended for two years while the Bulgarian Football Union was also fined 75,000 euros (£64,641) for "the racist behaviour of its supporters and the throwing of objects" during the Euro 2020 qualifier against England on October 14. 

But Reds starlet Brewster, 19, has been left incensed after a section of supporters at the match in Sofia's Levski Stadium directed racial abuse at England's black players, while some were also seen making Nazi salutes.

The teenager has suffered vile racist abuse playing for both club and country and he has blasted the governing body for failing to take a stand against racism.

Rhian Brewster of Liverpool has hit out at UEFA (Getty Images)

He wrote on Twitter : "Another embarrassing verdict today. Two games behind closed doors for Nazi salutes and racism. The world needs to wake up. #KickitOut."

The punishment handed to Bulgaria, announced by UEFA on Tuesday afternoon, exceeds the standard sanction for a second offence at a home match within a period of five years, which would normally be one match behind closed doors.

The sanction means Bulgaria's qualifier against the Czech Republic on November 17 will be played behind closed doors.

England players and manager Gareth Southgate speak to referee Ivan Bebek (Action Images via Reuters)

The match against England was stopped in the 28th minute and the first step of UEFA's anti-racism protocol - a public address announcement calling on the abuse to stop - was enacted.

The abuse continued and Croatian referee Ivan Bebek halted the match again just before half-time, though it was later confirmed that this did not constitute the second step of the protocol under which the referee leads the teams from the field temporarily.

Monkey chanting and booing directed at England's players and staff could still be heard during the second half, but the match was completed with England winning 6-0.

The Euro 2020 encounter took place earlier this month (VASSIL DONEV/EPA-EFE/REX)

The president of the BFU, Borislav Mihaylov, resigned the following day, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin saying the football family had to "wage war" on racism.

The Bulgarian federation was also fined 10,000 euros (£8,619) for causing disturbance during a national anthem, while the English Football Association was fined 5,000 euros (£4,309) for the same offence.

The charge against the FA related to an insufficient number of travelling stewards will be heard on November 21 after the association requested more time to present its defence.

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