England walked off the pitch during a Under-15 World Cup match in Baku after an alleged racist incident involving a Republic of Ireland player, resulting in the game being abandoned. The incident occurred in the final minute of the Group C match, with the Republic of Ireland leading 4-1 at the time. Match footage showed England staff relaying the complaint to the referee, alleging a racist slur, and calling their players off.
England head coach Matt Thorpe approached the referee, and an assistant coach was heard telling officials, "we are reporting racism," before adding "we do not want to play." Heated exchanges followed between coaching staff from both sides. Fifa confirmed it is investigating the matter and gathering official reports, stating the case will be referred to the independent disciplinary committee. The Football Association (FA) said it is awaiting more information and prioritizes player wellbeing. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has also been contacted for comment.
This marks the first edition of the U15 World Cup and Festival, featuring 189 countries and territories in an eight-a-side format with 20-minute halves. Later on Monday, England defeated Zimbabwe 2-0, while the Republic of Ireland won 4-1 against Cambodia.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing