Hungary 0-4 England LIVE! Racist abuse of Three Lions stars mars World Cup qualifier in Budapest

Hungary vs England - LIVE!

Allegations of racist abuse from a section of the home crowd marred England’s thumping win over Hungary in Budapest on Thursday night.

Monkey chants were reportedly aimed at Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham in the second half of the 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Puskas Arena.

England’s players were also booed as they took the knee ahead of kick-off in the Group I clash, while a flare was thrown onto the pitch and fans hurled cups and other debris at celebrating England stars on an ugly night in the Hungarian capital.

Hungary have already been hit with a three-game stadium ban - with the third match suspended - by Uefa this summer following discriminatory behaviour by fans at Euro 2020 and further investigations by Fifa will surely now follow.

England were excellent after a dominant but frustrating first 45 minutes, with second-half goals from the magnificent Sterling, Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice maintaining their unbeaten start on the road to Qatar in their first match since suffering Euro 2020 penalty shootout heartbreak against Italy at Wembley.

Follow Hungary vs England reaction LIVE with Dan Kilpatrick in attendance in Budapest...

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Hungary vs England latest news

• England stars Sterling and Bellingham targeted by racist abuse

• Players also pelted with cups and debris from stands in Budapest

• Southgate demands protection for players after abuse

• FA calls for Fifa investigation

• England players booed as they take the knee before kick-off

• Grealish: Atmosphere was unacceptable

Friday 3 September 2021 00:21 , George Flood

A message of support from Manchester City towards their player Sterling and his England team-mates.

“No one should have to accept what England’s footballers have endured this evening,” they tweeted.

“It’s totally unacceptable. Discrimination has no place in football. We are with you.”

More Southgate reaction

Thursday 2 September 2021 23:29 , George Flood

“I have to say there is a balance in the crowd,” he said. “As we know at home, not everybody at home causes problems. Tonight our national anthem was really respected remarkably well. It is not fair to criticise all the Hungarian fans.

“A lot of the Hungarian fans were very generous and behaved themselves extremely well. That is a very similar situation to the one we find at home. The individuals that are responsible, they need to be dealt with.

“Although some people are stuck in their way of thinking and prejudices, they are going to be the dinosaurs in the end because the world is modernising. Hungary isn’t anywhere near as diverse as our population as our country is.

“It’s still taking us a long, long time to get to where we need to get to and inevitably if other countries don’t have the same level of diversity it has probably not been in their thinking in the same way as it has in our country.”

More Southgate reaction

Thursday 2 September 2021 23:12 , George Flood

“Everybody knows what we stand for as a team and that is completely unacceptable. Everything is being reported and we have to see what happens from there.

“That’s for other people to deal with. There is no more that this group of players and all the staff could do in the fight against racism. We are trying to uphold our part of it and other people have got to take the right action to make progress.

“I don’t think our players can do anything more than they have done over the last two or three years in trying to get the right messages out, take the right stands and it is for other people to protect them. It is for me to protect them in the main, but for the authorities to protect them as well. They shouldn’t have to be subjected to any form of racism.”

Kick It Out statement

Thursday 2 September 2021 23:06 , George Flood

“We are appalled by the actions of some Hungary fans this evening,” Kick It Out said in a statement.

“Racist abuse is not welcome in our game and we stand proudly in support of the England team.

“We urge FIFA to investigate this matter urgently.

“Steps must be taken to ensure scenes like this are not repeated.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 22:56 , George Flood

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has just tweeted the following:

“Another dominant England performance and a great result.

“But once again, our England team are subjected to disgusting racist abuse.

“Completely unacceptable behaviour. Strong action must be taken against Hungary to protect players and show racism has no place in football.”

Gareth Southgate reaction

Thursday 2 September 2021 22:50 , George Flood

“I have heard reports of racism and we were not aware of that during the game. I am not sure we were particularly sensible celebrating right in front of their fans with the flare but the racism is the key part. We try to take a right stand, we knew taking the knee would get an adverse reaction and anything of that nature is unacceptable.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 22:46 , George Flood

Jack Grealish has called the atmosphere inside the Puskas Arena tonight “unacceptable” in a post-match tweet.

Thursday 2 September 2021 22:45 , George Flood

The Football Association have released the following statement after tonight’s reports of racist abuse in Budapest:

Thursday 2 September 2021 22:14 , George Flood

Harry Maguire was asked about those alleged racist chants by BBC Radio 5 Live...

“I have spoken to a couple of lads, I did not hear them myself and if it did happen then I am disappointed. Three, four of us did not hear them but you guys can hear them more clearly on TV.”

On Hungary fans booing the England players taking a knee, he said: “It was disappointing to hear the boos but it has happened in previous games, we knew what to expect but I am happy all the boys stood by it.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:57 , George Flood

Here’s John Stones’ reaction to that alleged racist chanting from a section of the Hungary crowd...

“I personally didn’t hear it, I’ve been told about it after. It is so sad to think that this happens at our games and I hope UEFA and whoever needs to take care of it does and I’m sure they will,” he said.

“We stand together as a team and we will continue fighting for what we believe in as as team and what we believe is right.I think we definitely have the mindset of ‘let the football do the talking’ and tonight we did that.

“We celebrated our goals as if it is the last one we will score at that is an incredible thing to have as a team and as players.

“We live the game and are so passionate for the shirt and how we conduct ourselves on the pitch. It is our passion, let our football do the talking and that showed tonight.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:46 , George Flood

Harry Kane is asked about those alleged monkey chants in his post-match interview with ITV...

“I didn’t hear that. I will talk to the boys and see if they heard. We will have to report to Uefa. If it is the case, hopefully Uefa will come down strong.”

Full-time

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:43 , George Flood

Hungary 0-4 England

A thumping win for the Three Lions after a superb second half and they keep up their 100 per cent start to 2022 World Cup qualifying in Group I ahead of upcoming matches against Andorra and Poland.

But the action on the pitch is once again overshadowed by terrible behaviour from some of the home fans in Budapest and reports of sickening racist abuse aimed at Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham.

GOAL! Hungary 0-4 England | Declan Rice 86’

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:32 , George Flood

86 mins: It’s four as Rice’s rather tame low strike gets past Gulacsi, who makes an absolute hash of trying to keep it out.

England laughing in the face of all the ugly provocation they have received from the stands tonight.

What a squad and group of players this is. They should be proud.

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:29 , George Flood

More on those reports of racist behaviour from a section of the Hungary crowd inside the Puskas Arena when we get it.

Reports of racist abuse aimed at England players

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:27 , George Flood

ITV’s Gabriel Clarke, who is pitchside in Budapest, is now reporting that monkey chants were aimed towards Sterling and England substitute Jude Bellingham (when he was warming up on the touchline) from the ultras section inside the Puskas Arena.

Sickening behaviour.

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:25 , George Flood

79 mins: Another chance for Kane after good link-up play with Grealish.

But he gets the finish wrong and Gulacsi can save.

Kane could have legitimately had four or five goals tonight.

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:23 , George Flood

76 mins: Terrible behaviour of their fans aside, Hungary have been dreadful on the pitch tonight - a shadow of the side that gave France and Germany scares at the Euros.

Szoboszlai gets a free-kick dreadfully wrong and there are then further chances for England, with Sterling’s poor finish allowing Gulacsi to make the save.

GOAL! Hungary 0-3 England | Harry Maguire 69'

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:14 , George Flood

69 mins: England are rampant now in Budapest!

The powerful Maguire easily shakes his marker and connects with Shaw’s corner from the left, with his emphatic header too hot to handle for Gulacsi, who gets a hand to it but can’t keep the ball out.

The goal stands after a brief VAR check.

More crowd issues after that goal, with further missiles thrown from the Hungary fans and then a flare hurled onto the pitch before being quickly removed.

More sanctions surely beckon. Dreadful.

Standard Sport’s James Robson

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:13 , George Flood

It is worth remembering just how difficult Hungary proved to be against France, Portugal and Germany in the Euros.

England are cruising to three points here.

An impressive statement in their first match since the Euros.

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:12 , George Flood

67 mins: Another chance for England as Grealish slips in Kane, but this time Gulacsi saves with his feet.

Dan Kilpatrick at the Puskas Arena

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:11 , George Flood

The harder the boo, the more determined he is to silence them. Raheem Sterling has continued where he left off at the Euros, making the difference for England again here with another superb, decisive display.

What an asset he is for Gareth Southgate.

GOAL! Hungary 0-2 England | Harry Kane 63'

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:08 , George Flood

63 mins: England double their advantage!

Kane expertly heads in the excellent Sterling’s cross and England are sitting pretty in Budapest.

Is there any way back for the hosts now?

Thursday 2 September 2021 21:07 , George Flood

60 mins: England are looking very lively now, with Sterling denied a penalty after a challenge by Bolla.

Orban also into the book for a(nother) foul on Grealish.

Sterling causing plenty of problems.

GOAL! Hungary 0-1 England | Raheem Sterling 56'

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:59 , George Flood

56 mins: England are in front!

It’s a very well-worked goal too, with Grealish attacking down the left and picking out the overlapping Mount, who side-foots the ball into Sterling to turn home.

Sterling takes off his shirt to reveal a message as he goes to celebrate and he and the England players are shockingly pelted with a hail of debris and cups from the crowd. Terrible.

He is booked for taking off the shirt, which had a tribute to his late friend Steffie Gregg underneath.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:59 , George Flood

54 mins: Hungary’s players are incensed after Rice initially wins the ball in one challenge and then catches Andras Schafer high on the leg, earning a yellow card in the process.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:56 , George Flood

50 mins: A big, big chance for England!

Walker’s excellent low pass feeds Kane, who gets away from Orban and looks destined to score, but he rather scuffs a shot that is parried by Hungary goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi from close range.

You would have put your house on him scoring there.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:54 , George Flood

49 mins: A positive start to this second half from England, with Shaw fouled by Kleinheisler and whipping in a free-kick that is headed away from Rice by Fiola.

Kane then picks out Grealish beyond the back post, but the Manchester City playmaker is unable to keep the ball in play as it bounces behind off his foot.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:50 , George Flood

Back underway in Budapest.

No changes from Gareth Southgate just yet.

Dan Kilpatrick at the Puskas Arena

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:38 , George Flood

A half of largely patient build-up from England but no reward yet.

Kane’s effort over the bar the closest they’ve come.

Hungary have defended well but offered little going forward.

Half-time

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:35 , George Flood

Hungary 0-0 England

England have dominated proceedings in Budapest, but without creating much at all.

No shots on target from either side in the opening 45 minutes.

Improvement needed all round.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:32 , George Flood

45 mins: Two minutes of added time signalled at the end of a pretty frustrating opening 45 minutes for England in Budapest.

Southgate’s side still pushing for a first-half opener...

Standard Sport’s James Robson

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:31 , George Flood

All a bit frustrating for England. Plenty of possession and some decent link-ups, but Hungary are totally comfortable playing this way.

They have confidence in their system and will have seen little to concern them.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:28 , George Flood

39 mins: A woeful effort from the Leipzig dangerman.

Jordan Pickford relieved as he watches it fly high and wide.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:25 , George Flood

38 mins: That’s a very poor challenge from Rice on Adam Szalai, who had looked to have fouled Walker after an interception from the veteran full-back.

This is a free-kick in a really dangerous area for set-piece specialist Szoboszlai...

Dan Kilpatrick at the Puskas Arena

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:22 , George Flood

England are in control but their patience is yet to pay off, with Hungary defending resolutely and in numbers.

This seems likely to be a waiting game for Gareth Southgate’s side. Hungary have offered next to nothing in attack.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:21 , George Flood

33 mins: A dangerous break from Hungary down the right flank causes England problems, but Szoboszlai’s low cross towards Bendeguz Bolla is poor and the chance is lost.

Another foul on the fleet-footed Grealish follows - a painful step on the back of his foot.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:17 , George Flood

29 mins: England force another corner and Maguire looks to connect with Mount’s delivery from the right, but he’s penalised for a push on RB Leipzig defender Willi Orban.

There’s then a tangle in the box between Sterling and Fiola, but no claims for a penalty.

Dan Kilpatrick at the Puskas Arena

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:11 , George Flood

England look rusty, which is perhaps understandable in the circumstances.

It’s not quite happening for the visitors in the final third, while they have been too loose in possession and a little nervous at the back.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:11 , George Flood

23 mins: A painful moment for Hungary’s Laszlo Kleinheisler as Maguire launches a long ball looking for the run of Mount and it hits him square in the privates.

That’s got to hurt.

Standard Sport’s James Robson

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:06 , George Flood

That was one of those Stones moments.

For all of his improvement over the past 12 months, there are still those heart in mouth moments when his concentration just lets him down.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:06 , George Flood

19 mins: Stones uses his pace to recover from letting the ball bounce awkwardly at one end - a scary moment for the Manchester City star - and England quickly turn defence into attack.

Grealish and Mount then combine nicely before the former finds Kane, who opens his body up before firing over from just outside the box.

Thursday 2 September 2021 20:03 , George Flood

14 mins: Kane’s dangerous low cross towards the back post almost reaches Sterling, but the ball flicks off defender Attila Fiola, who hacks away.

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:59 , George Flood

11 mins: Kane collects a searching long ball forward from Walker into that right channel inside the Hungary box, but the offside flag stops the England captain in his tracks.

Dan Kilpatrick at the Puskas Arena

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:58 , George Flood

England are dominating possession but still feeling their way into the game and haven’t made the kind of blistering start that was customary at Euro 2020.

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:53 , George Flood

6 mins: Boos and whistles every time England are on the ball early on at the Puskas Arena.

Grealish tries to release the overlapping Shaw, who is challenged inside the box as the Three Lions earn an early corner.

Maguire heads over.

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:52 , George Flood

4 mins: An early opportunity for England as Raheem Sterling tees up Mason Mount, who miscues his effort well wide.

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:45 , George Flood

Loud boos and whistles for the England players taking the knee ahead of kick-off.

Awful - that was far from a small minority of people.

So disappointing.

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:44 , George Flood

National anthems over, it’s almost time for kick-off.

No boos from the home fans for God Save the Queen.

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:39 , George Flood

Here come the teams at the Puskas Arena...

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:25 , George Flood

Final preparations in Budapest...

Southgate: Grealish can handle pressure of £100m price tag

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:23 , George Flood

Southgate also believes that Jack Grealish’s high-profile £100m summer move from Aston Villa to Manchester City will unquestionably make him a better all-round player and does not think he will suffer from the pressure associated with such a huge price tag.

“He is going to be fitter now because he missed 16 weeks (last season) and he was only able to train two days out of three in the summer,” Southgate said of Grealish.

“So we knew we had to get the best that we could physically from him. We’ve got to also respect that he is going to need a period of adaptation with his club.

“There’s a big difference to the way Manchester City play. Pep (Guardiola) is very precise on positional discipline with the ball. That’s different to what he’s used to. That will take some adaptation.

“I don’t think the price tag itself will bother him. I think he enjoys that. He’s a player that thrives on that sort of pressure. He will be judged differently on and off the pitch because of that price tag and because his profile is high at the moment.

“I think he is ready for that and would expect that. He is also going to play Champions League football and he is going to play with top-level players, train with top-level players every day, and he’s going to play at a club where they have to win every week. The combination of all those things is going to help him become a better player, with a doubt.”

Southgate: England need to win World Cup to get over Euros heartbreak

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:20 , George Flood

Gareth Southgate believes triumphing in Qatar next summer is the only way to make up for England just falling short in agonising fashion at the Euros.

Asked what it would take for that near-miss to be forgotten at his pre-match press call yesterday, the Three Lions boss said: “We probably need to win a World Cup final.

“Because nothing else is really going to compare to the level of the game we were involved in and the unique circumstance that being involved in a final brings.

“We had two years of having to reflect on a World Cup semi-final and whatever we do in the next 18 months has got to be towards leading us towards challenging in a World Cup.”

Hungary team

Thursday 2 September 2021 19:04 , George Flood

Here’s confirmation of how Hungary line up this evening:

Hungary: Gulacsi, Kecskes, Orban, Attila Szalai, Bolla, Kleinheisler, Schafer, Fiola, Sallai, Szoboszlai, Adam Szalai.

Subs: Tamas, Salloi, Lang, Dibusz, Gazdag, Roland Varga, Kevin Varga, Bogdan, Nikolic, Schon, Szabo, Cseri.

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:59 , George Flood

Here are Dan Kilpatrick’s pre-match thoughts from Budapest...

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:47 , George Flood

Our man Dan Kilpatrick is in position at the Puskas Arena...

50 up for Stones

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:42 , George Flood

Manchester City centre-back John Stones earns his 50th senior cap for England tonight.

One England change from Euro 2020 final

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:29 , George Flood

Jack Grealish for Kieran Trippier is Southgate’s only change from the England team that lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties.

The Three Lions revert to a four-man defence in Budapest.

England team

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:27 , George Flood

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:14 , George Flood

Italian coach Marco Rossi says Hungary would be on the side of England’s players if they were to receive abuse in Budapest tonight.

“I hope that we cannot face this kind of situation. What we can say is always in the past we have showed deep respect for everybody,” he told Sky Sports.

“I am not afraid or worried about the fact someone could have this kind of behaviour, racist behaviour, in front of the English players. I hope this does not happen.

“In case it does, we are absolutely on the side of the English players, of course.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 18:00 , George Flood

The Republic of Ireland’s players faced boos when they took the knee ahead of their friendly against Hungary at the nearby Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Budapest back in June.

Asked about the potential for racist abuse aimed at players tonight, England’s Harry Maguire said: “We speak about different scenarios going into every game, not just Hungary away. To speak about something in the future and something that you’re predicting might happen is a bit unfair.

“As players we’re fully focused on going to Hungary and playing in front of a full crowd and a great atmosphere.

“It’s a team which have shown they’re more than capable at the Euros, so we’re expecting a tough test and we’re more focused on the game to try to get the three points to qualify for Qatar.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:48 , George Flood

Gareth Southgate has refused to confirm if his England players would walk off the pitch tonight if faced with racist abuse from the stands.

England’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia in October 2019 was twice halted due to shocking racist abuse.

“I don’t think we should speak hypothetically,” he said.

“We know the experience we had before [in Bulgaria] but we’re going into Hungary preparing for a game against a crowd that will get behind their team.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge of the match and everything else is speculation really.”

He added: “We always prepare the team for everything really.

“We’ve done that this week, but also we know we’ve had our own issues at home so we’re not really focusing on other countries, we’re focusing on ourselves and making sure we get our own things correct.”

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:42 , George Flood

There will be a crowd of more than 60,000 inside the Puskas Arena tonight, despite Hungary being handed a three-game - with one match suspended - stadium ban by Uefa for discriminatory behaviour by their supporters at the Euros, where Budapest was a host city.

The ban does not apply to Fifa competitions.

England’s players will be taking a knee ahead of kick-off.

Standard Sport prediction

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:29 , George Flood

The bulk of the Hungary squad is the same as that which impressed at Euro 2020 with additions including debutants in striker Daniel Salloi and defender Mark Tamas.

And as they showed at those finals, it would be wrong to take them lightly.

But England made their own mark this summer, have also got the majority of the players who served them so well then, and welcomed back Alexander-Arnold, who missed out through injury.

A tight game, yes, but one that England should edge.

Hungary 1 England 2

Hungary team news

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:27 , George Flood

Hosts Hungary are without midfielder David Siger, defender Gergo Lovrencsics and right-back Loic Nego this evening, while Bristol City’s Adam Nagy is suspended.

However, Italian boss Marco Rossi is boosted by the return of RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who missed the European Championship with a persistent groin problem.

England team news

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:20 , George Flood

England will be without Jadon Sancho tonight due to a minor knock sustained by the Manchester United winger in training yesterday.

Jack Grealish is in line to make only his third senior Three Lions start and Leeds frontman Patrick Bamford will hope to feature in some capacity after being handed his maiden call-up.

Trent-Alexander Arnold and Jesse Lingard are both back in the squad, but Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin withdrew earlier this week due to a thigh issue.

How to watch Hungary vs England

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:17 , George Flood

The game is being screened live by ITV with the programme starting at 7.15pm.

There is also a highlights show featuring this match and others from across Europe at 10.45pm.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:17 , George Flood

Hungary vs England will kick-off at 7.45pm BST this evening - Thursday, September 2, 2021.

The match will be at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Welcome to Hungary vs England LIVE coverage

Thursday 2 September 2021 17:07 , George Flood

Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of tonight’s Group I 2022 World Cup qualifier between Hungary and England.

This evening represents the Three Lions’ first contest since the utter heartbreak of losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy at Wembley back in July.

Stay tuned for all the latest match build-up, latest team news and live updates, with Standard Sport’s chief football correspondent Dan Kilpatrick at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.