Gareth Southgate has praised the maturity of his players after they were racially abused before England’s win over Hungary in Budapest on Thursday. 

But the England manager also expressed frustration at having to discuss the issue of racism once again as his team prepares to face Andorra on Sunday.

Asked at a press conference about the abuse aimed at Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham, Southgate said: “Unfortunately, I don’t know how many camps we’ve had in the last four years, I seem to have been talking about this subject almost every time we’ve been together.

“I can only reiterate that our players are incredibly mature in how they deal with it.”

Reporting from inside the stadium in Budapest, Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett confirmed he had heard “sporadic monkey chants” from various areas of the crowd, directed primarily towards Sterling when he touched the ball – and when he set up Harry Kane for the second goal.

“I think [Sterling and Bellingham] feel supported by their teammates, which is very important to them,” Southgate said.

“I think their teammates recognise how challenging it must be for our black players and how disappointing it is in the modern world that we continue to have to answer these questions because of the incidents that happen.”

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings into what it called “concerning” incidents during the game.

The England players were also loudly booed when they took the knee before kick-off in a gesture to highlight the fight against racial inequality.

“We had prepared the players to expect a hostile crowd,” Southgate said.

“We can only keep taking the stance that we have done and hope that we continue to send the right messages not only to people in football but across society, and that everybody keeps progressing.

“We know that it’s going to take time, we know it feels very slow for everybody, but we have to keep fighting that battle.”

The England manager’s comments come after Wales captain Gareth Bale said he would support his teammates walking off the pitch in the face of racial abuse.

“If things don’t get sorted that will happen,” Bale said, ahead of leading Wales into World Cup qualifying action against Belarus on Sunday.

“If we felt we weren’t getting protection and being treated the right way by the governing bodies, and the only way to get the best response was to walk off, I’d be fully for it.

“Football qualifiers are important but these matters come way and above football.

“We haven’t discussed it. But we’d have that discussion if it happened and we’d all agree on it as we’re a team that sticks together and if anyone is being targeted we’ll do the right thing.”

The Real Madrid star also called for stricter punishments, suggesting repeat offenders should be banned from international competitions.

He added: “I don’t know the severity of what to do but the easiest thing is… whether you ban the fans from the stadium or if they keep repeatedly doing it, which seems to be what is happening, then you ban the country from the competition.

“If that country keeps making these horrible gestures, then maybe the best thing to do is to get rid of them, give them a suspension and hopefully they will learn their lesson that way.”

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