The denial was almost as deplorable as the abuse itself. A representative of the Montenegro FA interrupted a question to their coach, Ljubisa Tumbakovic, during his post-match press conference with the stunning assertion that “nobody heard any racism” during the match.
This basic renunciation of responsibility was an insult to all. The abhorrent chanting was initially difficult to detect, certainly from the press box located at the back of the main stand at the Gradski Stadion.
Yet, BBC 5live reporter Ian Dennis was the first to pick up on monkey chanting as early as the third minute, aided by headphones that provided sound from pitchside microphones. But it was only as England began racking up goals to turn down the noise from home supporters that it was more widely audible.
FA staff and the Uefa delegate in attendance were initially made aware of an isolated report at half-time, but photographers located pitchside quickly confirmed the racist abuse was sustained and, as one individual described it, “sickening”.
Raheem Sterling’s ears-cupped goal celebration was further evidence; Danny Rose was booked for a late tackle on substitute Aleksandar Boljevic near the end as he apparently struggled to contain his emotions; Callum Hudson-Odoi told beIN SPORTS he had heard monkey chanting.
And yet the official Montenegro FA stance was to stick their fingers in their ears. If — and surely when — Uefa come to punish them, this response should be taken into account.
Feigning ignorance is simply not good enough. This is a stadium known for its hostile atmosphere bordering on the extreme — a previous stadium ban was handed down after Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was hit by a flare in 2015 — but however much these fans think they can act as a leveller when better sides arrive in town, nobody can be allowed to sink to this level.
Southgate was visibly emotional when the notion of taking the players off the field was put to him.
“I’m just finding it a really difficult subject to broach,” he said. “I want my players to enjoy playing football and not be scarred by the experiences. If people think I should have done more, then I apologise.”
Southgate is not the one who should be apologising. Not for one second. UEFA have to throw the book at Montenegro. Staging qualifiers is a privilege. If they cannot abide the principles of basic human decency, then kick them out altogether.
Sadly, the track record of European football’s governing body does not inspire much confidence.
Last year, Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas were fined in the region of £30,000 because a cat came onto the pitch during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich. That was around £8,000 more than the £22,000 FIFA fined Russia for racist chanting. Talk about ludicrous, alarmingly skewed priorities.
Depressingly, Sterling and Rose have been here before. Far too many people have. A brawl broke out during an England Under-21 fixture in Serbia in October 2012 at the end of game littered with racist abuse. Rose was sent off for kicking the ball into the crowd in response.
Four Serbian players were banned and two coaches suspended for two years, while Steven Caulker and Thomas Ince were also sanctioned for their part in the ugly scenes. The Serbian authorities initially denied any racial abuse that night, too.
Uefa ordered Serbia to play one match behind closed doors and dished out a £65,000 fine. That is £15,000 less than the figure they deemed appropriate for Nicklas Bendtner wearing underwear bearing a sponsor’s name at Euro 2012.
Back then, FA general secretary Alex Horne said England would consider boycotting matches. Perhaps that is another recourse here, although why should this young side be denied the chance to play because of the actions of a mindless minority?
Inertia emboldens the idiots. This behaviour can only be met with a firm line allied, as Southgate rightly said, with education. “Sanctions are worthless if there is nothing alongside that to help educate people,” he said. “My kids don’t think for one minute about where people are born, what language they speak, what colour they are. There’s an innocence about young people that is only influenced by older people. So we have to make sure the education is right for everybody, in our country the same.”
As ever, Southgate struck the right tone. Strong leadership is vital. And if the Montenegro FA are not willing to provide that, then Uefa must do it for them.
