Montenegro to play behind closed doors for racist abuse of England players

Montenegro will play its next competitive home match behind closed doors "for the racist behavior of its supporters," UEFA confirmed on Friday.

England's black players - most notably Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose, and Callum Hudson-Odoi - were subjected to disgusting chanting during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Podgorica on March 25.

Sterling scored in the 5-1 win and put his hands to his ears in front of the Montenegrin supporters in response to the racism.

The Football Association of Montenegro has also been instructed to display a banner with the message "#EqualGame" before the match in front of an empty stadium. The governing body was fined €20,000 for charges that included the setting off of fireworks and throwing of objects by its fans.

Rose was skeptical about the punishment Montenegro would eventually receive for racism.

"When countries get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London what do you expect?" he told BBC Sport earlier this month.

He added: "There is so much politics in football. I can't wait to see the back of it."

The match in Podgorica and other incidences of racism over the 2018-19 season have thankfully spurred English football into action. With the support of the Professional Footballers' Association, players and some clubs staged a 24-hour social media boycott last week "as a show of unity by the players, and a call for stronger action to be taken by social networks and footballing authorities in response to racist abuse both on and off the pitch."

The PFA has since urged players to send evidence of racism on social media. The organization will then show that evidence to Mims Davies - who serves as the minister for sport and civil society - the Football Association, anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, and other leading football figures at a meeting in May.