England team prepared for hostile and even racist reactions in Budapest
England will face Hungary at the Puskás Aréna in the World Cup qualifier in Budapest on September 2. Even though Irish players were booed when they took the knee in Hungary in June, the England team intends to continue the protest against racism this way. British journalists expressed their concern about the “racist” reaction of Hungarian fans at the press conference.
UEFA has ordered Hungary to play their next three home matches behind closed doors due to the spectators’ discriminatory behaviour at Euro 2020. Nonetheless, on Thursday, a crowd of more than 60,000 fans will be present at the Puskás Aréna since the ban only applies to UEFA matches, and this World Cup qualifier falls under FIFA jurisdiction, writes Magyar Hang. When Sky Sport News asked Gareth Southgate about the England team’s possible reaction, the manager elegantly refused to talk about any speculations and claimed that
they are looking forward to the challenge of the match and ready to face the Hungarian crowd.
Southgate also added that the game on Thursday will be crucial, considering their World Cup qualification.
Kneeling is a symbolic gesture against racial violence and abuse that has triggered controversy in more cases. In June, Irish players were booed by Hungarian spectators at Szusza Ferenc Stadium, writes Daily Mail. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán argued that this kind of action has no place on the pitch, and he suggested that the Irish team had provoked their hosts and the fans.
“If you’re a guest in a country, then understand its culture and do not provoke its residents, […] We can only see this gesture system from our cultural vantage point as unintelligible, as a provocation,” explained the Hungarian Prime Minister at a press conference.
Many fans also booed England players after they took the knee in their two Euro 2020 warm-up games against Austria and Romania. Despite the controversy, central midfielder Kalvin Phillips is hopeful and believes that they are making progress: “I just know that, as a group, we’ll carry on taking the knee because it’s important to us, important to our country, and to fight racial abuse,” told the player to ESPN.
Read alsoMighty Magyars: football world cup final with Italy, and the legendary 6:3 defeat of England in Wembley – VIDEOS
Featured image: https://www.facebook.com/hungarianfans
4 Comments
Hungarians are right to boo those who come here with their knelling demonstration for white-hating, racist, terrorist BLM (Burn Loot Murder). Hungary didn’t colonize and loot Africa, India and the Middle-East. The British, French and other Western nations did. Western Europe was playing footsie with Stalin while Hungarians and other Soviet occupied nation suffered under communism. The England team should think about that.
I agree with most things Istvan said about Hungary’s history. However, concerning the BLM movment he should not discuss what he doesn’t understand. When kneeling is bad, protesting is bad, what is left for a people to do when they keep dying? What would you do if your friends and family were dying from the police? Where and who do you turn to then? What choices do you have? If they kneel why do you care?
The Brits can stay home and play with their purses and share their woke stories in the locker room Hungarians have every right to boo these British “Princesses” pretending to be doing something good for humnaity.
As a British person i fully support booing this kneeling nonsense!
Kneeling is NOT a symbol of being against Racism, it is a sign of submission to the Marxist BLM. If you read any of the BLM literature you will see it as pure racism!
Please note that of the 80 million dollars raised by BLM not a single cent was given to George Floyds family!
Just saying!