Spectators who engaged in disorder during a September 2021 World Cup qualifier between Hungary and England – which included racist abuse being directed towards Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham – have been handed fines by a civil court.
The Hungarian football federation (MLSZ) announced the sanctions on its official website on Thursday.
Less than three weeks after the disorder, FIFA ordered Hungary to play one home match behind closed doors, with a further match suspended, and fined the MLSZ 200,000 Swiss francs (equivalent to £160,000 at the time).
“The MLSZ decided at that time to protect innocent fans from troublemakers, and that the latter should be held accountable for their actions,” Thursday’s statement said.
A szurkolók érdekében a rendbontóknak vállalniuk kell a következményeket tetteikért!https://t.co/UcbYzAxgZy
— MLSZ (@MLSZhivatalos) January 23, 2025
“To this end, it identified and excluded the perpetrators with the assistance of the police, (and they) had to face the consequences in court.
“After the successful police proceedings, the perpetrators were sentenced to varying fines by the court, depending on the severity of the offence.
“With these measures, the association wants to signal that troublemakers have no place in stadiums.
“It is important to emphasise again that even a single unsportsmanlike act by a spectator will have strict consequences in the event of disorder, discrimination or racism.”
Sterling and Bellingham were the targets of monkey chants during the 4-0 win for England in Budapest.
The football authorities came in for criticism at the time over the failure to carry over a UEFA stadium ban imposed in July 2021 for racist chanting and homophobic banners into the World Cup qualifiers overseen by FIFA.
