England Under-17s’ 2-1 friendly victory over Venezuela in Duisburg was overshadowed by two stoppages caused by reports of racist abuse, prompting the Football Association (FA) to launch discussions with organisers and governing bodies over potential action.
The match, staged in Germany as part of preparations for next month’s European Championship qualifiers in Lithuania, was halted twice in the second half after allegations that one or more Venezuelan players directed racist language towards an England footballer.
It is not clear which individual was targeted, but England’s players, visibly shaken, walked off the pitch on both occasions while the referee consulted with coaches and officials. England head coach Liam Bramley was seen consoling his players during the interruptions.
FA condemns abuse
The Football Association swiftly issued a statement condemning the incidents.
“This is being treated with the utmost seriousness and our priority is to support our players and staff,” an FA spokesperson said. “We are in ongoing discussions with tournament organisers and the relevant authorities about next steps.”
The governing body stressed it would stand firmly behind its young players, who were praised for their composure in difficult circumstances.
England show resilience
Despite the disruptions, England recovered from conceding the opening goal to claim a 2-1 victory. Metz forward Brian Madjo and Chelsea defender Ryan Kavuma-McQueen were on the scoresheet as Bramley’s side overturned the deficit.
The result provided some measure of satisfaction, but the mood was dominated by anger and disappointment at the alleged abuse.
“It should have been about football and preparation for important qualifiers,” said one England staff member. “Instead, our boys had to deal with something no player should ever face.”
Wider context
The incident adds to a series of racism controversies that have marred international football in recent years. UEFA and FIFA regulations permit referees to stop, suspend, or abandon matches if racist behaviour occurs, with disciplinary sanctions for teams whose players or supporters are guilty of discriminatory conduct.
England’s age-group teams, like their senior counterparts, have long emphasised a zero-tolerance approach to racism. In 2019, England’s senior team briefly stopped their Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia after racist chanting from sections of the crowd.
The difference in Duisburg is that the abuse is alleged to have come from opposition players rather than fans, a particularly serious allegation that tournament organisers will be compelled to investigate.
Preparing for Euro qualifiers
England Under-17s are using the three-game series in Duisburg as final preparation for their Euro 2026 qualifiers in Lithuania next month. The matches are designed to sharpen the squad ahead of competitive fixtures, but Bramley’s players have instead found themselves at the centre of an international incident.
Still, Bramley praised his players for their response after the final whistle.
“They showed maturity and unity in very difficult circumstances,” he said privately. “This will only make them stronger, but of course it’s something that should never have happened.”
Next steps
The FA confirmed it is in active dialogue with German organisers and FIFA’s disciplinary authorities to determine whether charges will be brought against Venezuela’s Under-17 side. Sanctions could range from fines and suspensions to possible bans from future youth tournaments if wrongdoing is proven.
For the players, the priority will now be to refocus on football. England face two more games in Duisburg before flying to Lithuania, where they hope to qualify for Euro 2026 and underline the progress of an exciting generation.
But for now, their opening friendly will be remembered not for the comeback win, but for the shocking allegations that forced football to pause—twice—in order to confront racism once again.
