Pearce expresses faith in UEFA

12 November 2012 19:17

England Under-21s boss Stuart Pearce trusts UEFA to make the "right and proper decision" about how to deal with the controversial events at last month's 1-0 victory in Serbia.

Trouble flared at the end of the Euro 2013 play-off second leg in Krusevac on October 16 after Connor Wickham's stoppage-time goal, which saw the visitors advance to next summer's tournament in Israel with a 2-0 aggregate triumph. Missiles were thrown and some fans got on to the pitch, while there were clashes involving players and staff from both teams.

This was played out against a backdrop of alleged racial abuse from the stands towards England players, with defender Danny Rose, who was sent off after the final whistle for kicking the ball away in anger, complaining he had been particularly targeted.

UEFA have charged the Serbian and English Football Associations over the behaviour of their players and the former for the alleged racist chanting.

UEFA's control and disciplinary body will convene on November 22 to deal with the case and speaking about the matter, Pearce said: "I trust UEFA to make the right and proper decision on what they have seen - on video evidence and with their assessor having being at the game, what he heard and saw.

"Whatever my internal thoughts are is a little bit irrelevant. We will know soon how UEFA are going to address this."

The Serbian Football Association (FSS), who handed lengthy bans to two of their own players for their part in the confrontations, have denied fans at the game were guilty of "any occurrences of racism" and accused Rose of acting in an "inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar manner" towards supporters.

Meanwhile, the English FA are continuing to communicate with the Balkan nation over reports criminal charges had been laid against Young Lions defenders Steven Caulker and Tom Lees, plus coach Steve Wigley.

Asked if he was angry about the way the Serbian authorities had conducted themselves since the match, Pearce said: "Not overly, and I'm not sure if the police did actually charge any of ours - it was mooted that they were going to.

"As far as we are concerned, I try to educate the players, and all of my staff do, in terms of the way to behave and what might be ahead of them in certain games, and I think they handled themselves fantastically well."

Source: PA