England could walk off if players racially abused in Argentina

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England could walk off if players racially abused in Argentina

BBC Sport · 1 month ago

England
England
1
FIFA WC26
1-2
Finished
Argentina
Argentina
2

Key moments
  1. 37'

    Yellow card
    Elliot ANDERSON (England) is booked by
  2. 42'

    Yellow card
    Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
  3. 51'

    Yellow card
    Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
  4. 55'

    Goal
    Anthony GORDON (England) scores!!
  5. 85'

    Goal
    Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) scores!!
  6. 90'+2'

    Goal
    Lautaro MARTINEZ (Argentina) scores!!
  7. 90'+4'

    Yellow card
    Rodrigo DE PAUL (Argentina) is booked
Squads
England squad
  • Selected
  • 1 Jordan PICKFORD
    Goalkeeper
  • 4 Declan RICE
    Midfielder
  • 5 John STONES
    Defender
  • 6 Marc GUEHI
    Defender
  • 8 Elliot ANDERSON
    Midfielder
  • 9 Harry KANE
    C Forward
  • 10 Jude BELLINGHAM
    Midfielder
  • 17 Morgan ROGERS
    Midfielder
  • 18 Anthony GORDON
    Forward
  • 24 Reece JAMES
    Defender
  • 25 Djed SPENCE
    Defender
  • 2 Ezri KONSA
    Defender
  • 3 Nico OREILLY
    Defender
  • 7 Bukayo SAKA
    Forward
  • 11 Marcus RASHFORD
    Forward
  • 12 Trevoh CHALOBAH
    Defender
  • 13 Dean Henderson
    Goalkeeper
  • 14 Jordan HENDERSON
    Midfielder
  • 15 Dan BURN
    Defender
  • 16 Kobbie MAINOO
    Midfielder
  • 19 Ollie WATKINS
    Forward
  • 20 Noni MADUEKE
    Forward
  • 21 Eberechi EZE
    Midfielder
  • 22 Ivan TONEY
    Forward
  • 23 James TRAFFORD
    Goalkeeper
  • Full squad
  • 26 Jarell QUANSAH
    Defender
Argentina squad
  • Selected
  • 3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO
    Defender
  • 5 Leandro PAREDES
    Midfielder
  • 6 Lisandro MARTINEZ
    Defender
  • 9 Julian ALVAREZ
    Forward
  • 10 Lionel MESSI
    C Forward
  • 13 Cristian ROMERO
    Defender
  • 17 Giuliano SIMEONE
    Forward
  • 20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER
    Midfielder
  • 23 Emiliano MARTINEZ
    Goalkeeper
  • 24 Enzo FERNANDEZ
    Midfielder
  • 26 Nahuel MOLINA
    Defender
  • 1 Juan MUSSO
    Goalkeeper
  • 2 Marcos SENESI
    Defender
  • 4 Gonzalo MONTIEL
    Defender
  • 7 Rodrigo DE PAUL
    Midfielder
  • 8 Valentin BARCO
    Midfielder
  • 11 Giovani Lo Celso
    Midfielder
  • 12 Geronimo RULLI
    Goalkeeper
  • 14 Exequiel PALACIOS
    Midfielder
  • 15 Nico GONZALEZ
    Midfielder
  • 16 Thiago ALMADA
    Forward
  • 18 Nico PAZ
    Forward
  • 19 Nicolas OTAMENDI
    Defender
  • 21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ
    Forward
  • 22 Lautaro MARTINEZ
    Forward
  • 25 Facundo MEDINA
    Defender

England captain Jamie George has said the team are considering walking off the pitch if any player suffers racial abuse during Saturday's Nations Championship match against Argentina, following an incident marred by such abuse during last year's fixture in San Juan. That game saw England replacements Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Chandler Cunningham-South racially abused, an incident World Rugby condemned but for which no perpetrators were identified, adding fresh tension ahead of this weekend's rematch in a country already whipped up by a Messi-inspired football World Cup semi-final comeback.

George said England have discussed a "plan B" should abuse occur again, with the first step being to alert the referee so protocols can be triggered, while further action is still being finalised with input from players of different ethnic backgrounds. The Argentine Rugby Federation has since introduced anti-abuse messaging across tickets, screens and stadium announcements, plus a mandatory code of conduct for provincial unions, though tensions remain after a heated November clash in which Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi accused England's Tom Curry of bullying and pushing him. Kick-off is at 20:10 BST on Saturday in Santiago del Estero, with England having won nine of their last ten meetings with Argentina.

  • England may walk off if players face racial abuse again in Argentina
  • Follows unresolved abuse of two England players in San Juan last year
  • Argentina has introduced new anti-abuse measures ahead of Saturday's match

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