Serbia FA send warning to own fans ahead of crunch World Cup qualifier vs England

Serbia are due to take on England in a World Cup qualifier in Belgrade on Tuesday and the hosts’ Football Association have sent a warning to supporters before the game

Serbia football chiefs have issued a stern warning to their own fans ahead of their World Cup qualifier with England. The Serbian Football Association has sent a message to supporters urging them not to display signs, symbols, flags or make political chants when they face England.

Serbia are already under a UEFA punishment as the 50,000 Rajko Mitić Stadium will be partially closed – 15 percent of seats will be left empty – on Tuesday night after fans were found guilty of racism during their clash with Andorra last June. The Serbia FA have been fined over £600,000 by UEFA in the last five years for crowd offences and the statement warns they will face greater punishment if there are any incidents against England.

The statement said: “UEFA has long established a list of prohibited items (signs, symbols, flags, sounds, chants, political slogans…) that are subject to strict sanctions and penalties. “In the last five years alone, the Football Association of Serbia has been fined over 700,000 euros by UEFA for various prohibited behaviours, insults, and discrimination directed from the stands during matches of the senior national team and other selections.

“The national team is our pride, we have no other, and it deserves support befitting such important matches. We wish to emphasise the value and need for support that contributes to creating a positive atmosphere at the stadium.

“Let us be united in our love for football, support our national team in the right way, show respect for the opponent and their national anthem. Let the match against England be a celebration of sport and respect between rivals and nations.”

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel singles out THREE England stars after Three Lions’ struggle vs AndorraREAD MORE: Thomas Tuchel’s laughable programme notes comment fools no-one as England fans send message

On the pitch, Serbia and England are both unbeaten in qualifying group K. Neither side has conceded a goal, with England winning four out of four and Serbia picking up two wins and a goalless draw away to Albania.

England played the third of their four home games on Saturday, beating Andorra 2-0. Christian Garcia’s own goal put the Three Lions in front at the break, with Declan Rice doubling their advantage in the second half.

“I liked the performance. It was a good performance, a solid performance against a low block,” England boss Thomas Tuchel said. “The second goal came too late to play with maybe 100% freedom that is needed to score more. We created a lot of chances but didn’t convert them.

“We had to wait a long time for the second goal and then we had from the substitutions good energy and then we had the second goal and felt freedom. It was also a signal to the opponent that the game was over.

“In general with the effort and attitude I am totally satisfied and it was a much better performance than in June [when England won away to Andorra]. It would have been deserved to win 4-0 or 5-0.”

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