England players heavily booed after taking a knee before their World Cup qualifier against Hungary in Budapest after fixture was placed on FIFA's 'red list' due to a high risk of racist and homophobic abuse By Kathryn Batte For Mailonline Published: 19:58 BST, 2 September 2021 | Updated: 20:09 BST, 2 September 2021 Viewcomments England's players were heavily booed as they took a knee before their World Cup qualifier with Hungary. Gareth Southgate's men confirmed they would make the anti-racism gesture in Budapest, despite expecting a back-lash from home supporters. Kalvin Phillips told journalists before the game the players will 'carry on taking the knee because it's important for us, important for our country and to fight racial abuse'. This is not the first time Hungary supporters have booed opposition players taking the knee. Irish players were severely abused when they made the anti-racism gesture before a friendly in Budapest in June. The action of fans was then enthusiastically endorsed by Hungary’s president, Victor Orban. Thursday's fixture was placed on FIFA's 'red list' following previous discriminatory behaviour from Hungarian fans and observers have been sent to the match to film any abuse. England's players were heavily booed as they took a knee before their World Cup qualifier with Hungary Hungary also had issues during Euro 2020, with homophobic chanting at each of their group games involving France, Portugal and Germany. They were served with a three-match stadium ban by UEFA following Euro 2020, but that does not apply to FIFA competitions, so more than 60,000 are in attendance this evening. No English supporters were allowed to Budapest for tonight's game. However, some England fans booed their own players in friendlies before the start of Euro 2020 while Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were racially abused online after missing their penalties in the final. The Fare Network provides risk assessments to FIFA on each match and it has flagged this one as a ‘red list’ fixture. As a result, FIFA has sanctioned the presence of monitors, who will file a report. Ahead of England's game in Budapest, the Fare Network was concerned that the high-profile fixture may even be abandoned under the three-step protocol. ‘Everyone from Ronaldo and French players were abused [during Euro 2020 matches in Budapest], homophobically and there was monkey chanting at French players and all of that led to UEFA banning [fans] for three matches,’ said Piara Powar, the chief executive of the Fare Network, which is appointed by FIFA to monitor fan behaviour at matches. ‘There is a foreboding mix of politics and a very diverse England team who are very keen to put their views front and centre. They are very clear that they stand for positive and inclusive values and the taking of the knee is part of theat. UEFA did not take action after the booing of Irish players, but Powar expects FIFA to take a tougher line if there is widespread opposition to the anti-racism gesture this time. ‘With FIFA, if the booing is very loud…, if it is the majority of the crowd as it was against the Republic of Ireland, we would certainly advocate to FIFA that is an offence and FIFA will probably take a different approach to UEFA.’ ‘We would definitely be advocating it is an offence and action should be taken.’ Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility