Keir RADNEDGE

Sofia racism was a disaster waiting to happen

The racism which scarred England’s visit to Bulgaria was an indirect product of complacency within international football by those who do care and carelessness by those who do not.

Coded admissions emerged in responsive statements from presidents Aleksander Ceferin of UEFA and Gianni Infantino of FIFA. Both urged governments and society in general to do more in terms of anti-racism education, but in the current nationalist and austerity climates that is a wish beyond fulfilment.

But that does not exonerate football from accepting its own responsibilities – which is easier said than done as the experiences of FIFA and UEFA prove.