England U17 Match Suspended for 50 Minutes Amid Alleged Racial Abuse

The England Under-17s game in Duisburg, Germany, was halted for 50 minutes due to reports of racial abuse directed at the Young Lions players. Despite eventually winning the match 2-1, the controversy overshadowed the outcome, with the main focus on the alleged discriminatory behavior by their opponents.

Images from the match show player Liam Bramley comforting his teammates as they left the pitch, visibly upset. Chelsea’s 16-year-old Mathis Eboue was particularly distressed by the incident. The game was interrupted twice, leading to the significant delay.

An FA spokesperson condemned the incident, stating, “We are aware of disturbing reports of racism towards England players during the U17 match against Venezuela. This is being taken very seriously, and our priority is to support our players and staff. We are in ongoing discussions with tournament organizers and relevant authorities regarding next steps.”

Further comments from the Venezuelan Football Federation have not been provided at this time.