Football is responsible for Southgate for field invasions and violence
Gareth Southgate says the League of Nations home game against Italy behind closed doors next month is “uncomfortable”.
The match in Moline on June 11 will be held without the presence of fans, after the Football Association was imposed sanctions for problems with the audience.
This came after a series of incidents at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium between the two nations in July.
The FA was fined £ 84,560 for “lack of order and discipline” in the match.
Hundreds of ticketless fans entered Wembley and clashed with the stewards after the area around the stadium was crowded hours before the start of the evening.
Many sat in the area reserved for players’ relatives, while England defender Harry Maguire later said his father, Allen, had received two alleged broken ribs before the match.
Italy won the final 3-2 on penalties to become European champions after finishing 1-1 after extra time.
Asked if England had been lenient with a two-game ban, with one game suspended for 24 months, Southgate said: “Well, we have a yellow card, don’t we?
“So, we are where we are. Now we have the inconvenience of playing behind closed doors at home.
“Usually, when you look at these things that have happened abroad, we all wonder how this is someone else’s problem and how this country should be treated – and now we are. This is not a good point of view for our country. “
England hosted eight matches during Euro 2020 last summer
England played four League of Nations matches in June, visiting Hungary and Germany, followed by a visit to Italy and a rematch against the Hungarians on 14 June.
The opening clash at the Pushkas Arena will also take place in front of an empty stadium on June 4th, after the Hungarian FA was punished after racist incidents during England’s last trip to Budapest.
The games come amid a domestic season that ended with a series of high-profile field invasions across the country.
Sheffield United striker Billy Sharpe was hit by a fan in the Nottingham Forest Championship play-offs, while Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira was involved in a dispute with a supporter in the loss of his team to Everton and Aston Villa goalkeeper Abane on Sunday, as Manchester City fans flocked to celebrate the Premier League title.
Southgate called the recent unpleasant incidents a “concern” and called on football to tackle the problem before it dictates changes in the match’s experience.
“Obviously there is a responsibility in football, because when it is in our environment, we have to do everything possible to try to make sure that this does not happen,” added the England manager.
“We all acknowledge this, but it is a wider issue. This is behavior and a reflection of where we are as a country.
“This is a difficult time for the people, we will have more difficult times because of the economy and the reality of the situation we are in.
“But we need to look at what we are doing about parenting. What are the expectations?
“How we want to be seen as a country, because that’s what football is doing right now and it’s not a good look. We don’t want to go back to the fences and the type of environment it created.”
England is hosting the European Women’s Championship in the summer and is part of the UK and Ireland’s bid to host the Men’s Tournament in 2028 – and Southgate fears they may be affected by further incidents of public problems.
“We still want to host events,” he added. “We have a women’s euro here this summer, which should be a brilliant experience – and what we experienced last year was amazing.
“So we’re talking about something that might cost us the chance to do things like that, because people will be looking outside.
“We still want to be hosts, we still have fantastic facilities, brilliant stadiums. What we don’t want is this element that will divert attention from the good things that are there.”
Add Comment