ENGLAND star Marcus Rashford led praise for Bulgaria skipper Ivelin Popov after he remonstrated with racist fans in a bid to stop the abuse of black players.
Popov, 31, spoke at length to supporters by terrace barriers at half-time after two stoppages left England’s eventual 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win in danger of being abandoned.
England’s 4-0 interval lead had been overshadowed by complaints of terrace racism, including monkey noises, firstly from Three Lions debutant Tyrone Mings and then Raheem Sterling.
England boss Gareth Southgate passed the information onto sideline officials, who activated Uefa’s protocol for halting play and issuing stadium warnings to fans.
Impressive Aston Villa centre-back Mings initially alerted the authorities to the problems early on in Sofia.
The 26-year-old turned to a linesman and asked: “Hey, did you hear that?”
Rashford later praised Popov, writing on Twitter: “Also been told what the Bulgarian captain did at half-time.
“To stand alone and do the right thing takes courage and acts like that shouldn’t go unnoticed. #NoToRacism.”
England captain Harry Kane spoke to Croatian referee Ivan Bebek as play was stopped for five minutes.
But Southgate then told the Uefa official the abuse was “continuing.”
The stadium announcer urged home fans to behave or the game could be called off.
And the warning was repeated just before the break, causing another two-minute delay.
A group of around 50 home supporters from one of the apparent trouble spots in the stands could then be seen filing away.
FA chief executive Greg Clarke later confirmed the fans had been ordered to leave the stadium.
TV screens showed at least one of them wearing a “No respect” T-shirt.
And several of the group smirked as they made what looked like offensive arm gestures.
