England squad prepare protocols ahead of World Cup qualifier in Belgrade after past racist incidents

England’s senior squad said it has discussed how players and staff will respond to any racial abuse as they prepare for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade.

Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, who joined the squad this week, said the group were "very aware" of potential challenges and that protocols and potential actions had been discussed internally. Manager Thomas Tuchel said the team would have to "adapt to the adversity and overcome adversity" and was preparing for an emotional atmosphere at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.

The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) issued an appeal to supporters to create a positive atmosphere and show respect for the opponent and the national anthems. The FSS reminded fans that the national team "deserves support befitting such important matches" and called for unity and respectful conduct during the fixture.

The visit comes after the FSS was hit with a partial stadium closure of approximately 15 percent following an incident in June in which supporters were found to have engaged in racist behaviour during a match against Andorra. UEFA has fined the Serbian FA more than £600,000 in the last five years for a range of offences, including discrimination from the stands, and has investigated alleged racist chanting toward England players during last year’s European Championship.

Concerns are informed by a history of reported abuse during games in Serbia. England’s Under-21 side endured sustained racist chants at a fixture in Krusevac in 2012, with players such as Danny Rose and Andros Townsend among those who later spoke publicly about the incident; several members of Serbia’s team and staff were subsequently sanctioned. More recently, an England Under-17 match versus Venezuela was suspended for 50 minutes last week amid allegations of racist abuse.

Eze described the squad’s approach as precautionary, saying the group would decide internally on the best course of action if anyone was targeted. Tuchel, asked about the state of the Rajko Mitic pitch, said he had not seen it yet and that the team was "ready for everything."

The FSS statement urged supporters to "create a positive atmosphere" and asked that they support the national team in a manner that would "make us all proud." It also emphasized respect for opponents and their national anthems and called for the match to be a "celebration of sport and respect between rivals and nations." The federation’s appeal follows UEFA disciplinary measures and public criticism tied to previous incidents.

England’s preparations reflect both player welfare concerns and wider scrutiny of crowd behaviour ahead of high-profile internationals. UEFA, national associations and teams have increasingly signalled that discriminatory behaviour will be sanctioned and that match protocols now routinely include steps to address abuse, suspension or abandonment where necessary.

Kickoff is scheduled for Tuesday evening. Both teams and governing bodies will be monitored by UEFA and national authorities for compliance with anti-discrimination measures and match-safety protocols.