England director Gareth Southgate fears his players could be exposed to abuse when they confront Bulgaria in Sofia.
This year, while he was subjected to abuse within another Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro, raheem Sterling was the target of alleged abuse from a Bulgaria enthusiast during England triumph at Wembley on Saturday.
Southgate fears the issue could continue when England traveling to Sofia on October 14.
“Yes, it is a concern,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve already planned.
“We’ve already planned what our schedule looks like and we are going to share it with the players until we go, because we are aware that there’s history there and we wish to make sure that we’re all prepared for what might happen and the way we want to respond.
“So, we’re going to address that if all of us get back together. We didn’t believe it was right to do this month because it’s too much off from the games, but we have to hope… we are not convinced that we’ll go there and nothing else will occur.”
England trip to Bulgaria in September 2011 was overshadowed by racism, together with Theo Walcott Ashley Young along with Ashley Cole exposed to monkey chants throughout a Euro 2012 qualifier.
The Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) was only fined #34,000 from UEFA for”discriminatory” chanting and to get its light and casting of fireworks.
The Vasil Levski National Stadium will be partially closed as punishment for its behaviour of their fans from the loss from the Czech Republic in June for the trip in October of England.
Southgate has concerns over the conduct of England fans on the trips to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Violence involving a few England supporters marred the recent Nations League finals in Southgate and Portugal has urged supporters to behave when overseas.
“It ought to be a given – sadly it isn’t,” he said. “Regrettably, we’re going to a place where folks go, travel anyway for nighttime out from our nation.
“That which we do not need to see is behaviour that I am afraid happens on our very own high roads, therefore it is not something that is only England supporters.
“I’m fearful that it is a social issue of people with alcohol unable to control themselves. But we certainly do not wish to be accepting that abroad and this being a rendering of our country.”
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