Harry Kane says England will walk off if players face racist abuse in Belgrade

England captain Harry Kane said the national team would abandon their World Cup qualifying match in Belgrade if players were subjected to racist abuse, declaring the squad prepared to act and to follow established UEFA protocols.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's qualifying fixture at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, Kane said the players know the steps to take should racist chanting or other discriminatory behaviour occur and that he would lead the side off the pitch if necessary. "Yes, we had a similar situation in Bulgaria. UEFA have the protocols in place for us to follow. We know the steps, we know the situation," he said, adding that the squad hoped the intervention would not be required.

The Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade has been operating at a reduced capacity after incidents of racist behaviour by Serbia supporters during a June match against Andorra. Football authorities have warned that repeated incidents could lead to further sanctions, and Kane said England's primary focus remained on their opponents on the night. "We're talking about something that's not happened yet," he said. "We'll take everything in our stride, everything as it comes. We're clear in what we want to do. Let's just see what happens tomorrow night. We're more focused on Serbia as a team and how we can hurt them."

Kane's comments came amid wider debate about player safety and how governing bodies respond to discriminatory abuse at matches. The England captain referenced a recent episode in Bulgaria as a precedent and emphasised that the team had rehearsed the UEFA procedures designed to address such incidents. He did not specify which measures would be taken at what stage, but UEFA's three-step protocol — public announcements, temporary suspension of the match, and potential abandonment — has been cited in past cases by officials and players.

Separately, Kane responded to criticism from former England striker Michael Owen, who had called the striker's move to Germany "nuts" when Kane left the Premier League for Bayern Munich while on the verge of becoming the Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer. Kane said he had heard Owen's comments and that he respected Owen's career, but defended his own decision.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I've spent a bit of time with him but don't know him well. Obviously, he is a Premier League great and an England great as well, so I'll respect him as a person," Kane said. "Ultimately, as he will know, everyone's career is different — everyone's decisions and motivations are different. I know he was insinuating I went just for the trophy, but it was to be at the highest level for as long as possible, and I'm really happy in that sense of playing big games, title runs, big Champions League matches. I feel I'm improving as a player, I'm pushing my limits as a player in terms of goalscoring. It's hard not to hear things these days, but the decisions are best for me and I'm really happy that I made that decision and very happy at Bayern Munich now."

England travel to Belgrade seeking to maintain momentum in their qualifying campaign. The Football Association has previously lobbied UEFA and other governing bodies for clearer and stronger sanctions to deter racist chanting and fan misconduct, and national teams have increasingly signalled a willingness to take a stand in the face of abuse.

Kane framed the issue as one the team had prepared for but hoped would not overshadow the match itself, stressing the squad's focus on their tactical and on-field responsibilities. The captain's remarks followed a series of high-profile incidents in European international fixtures that have prompted renewed scrutiny of fan behaviour and the adequacy of existing deterrents.

England's match in Belgrade is scheduled for Tuesday night; officials from UEFA and the Football Association were expected to monitor the game and be ready to implement anti-discrimination procedures if required.