FOOTBALL matches can be abandoned for alleged racism under Fifa and Uefa rules, but only after a specific protocol has been followed.For England’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Fifa has imposed restrictions at Belgrade’s Rajko Mitic Stadium due to discriminatory incidents involving Serbian fans.GettyPlayers and officials have been taking to one knee to publicise No Room for Racism during matches[/caption]DaznFifa has now introduced a global standard gesture — a crossed-hands signal by referees — to indicate when they are initiating the anti-racism protocol during matches[/caption]ReutersDuring England’s World Cup qualifier, 15 per cent of the Rajko Mitic Stadium is closed to home fans[/caption]Can a football match be abandoned for alleged racism? In short, yes.Fifa and Uefa’s anti-racism protocol involves a three-step process when racist behaviour is identified during a match.First, the referee halts the game briefly and instructs the stadium announcer to call for an end to racist chants or actions.Secondly, if the abuse continues after the match restarts, the referee must suspend the game for five to ten minutes, removing the players from the field and issuing a second formal announcement warning fans about the consequences of ongoing misconduct.The third step, if racist behaviour persists after the second restart of the match, the referee then has the authority to abandon the game entirely.This protocol is designed to provide clear opportunities to stop the abuse while giving officials a structured approach to escalating responses as necessary.Fifa has formalised these steps to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on racism.It has also introduced a global standard gesture — a crossed-hands signal by referees — to indicate when they are initiating the anti-racism protocol during matches. Fifa’s Disciplinary Code includes consequences for such behaviour, ranging from fines to match forfeits and criminal charges where applicable.The organisation’s website says: “We will push for the recognition of racism as a criminal offence in every country in the world, and where already an offence, will push for prosecution with the severity it deserves.” Why has Serbia been sanctioned?The Serbian Football Association (FSS) has been fined over £600,000 by Fifa and Uefa in the past five years, largely for racist and discriminatory behaviour in stadiums. During England’s World Cup qualifier, 15 per cent of the Rajko Mitic Stadium is closed to home fans as punishment for racist chanting during a game against Andorra earlier in 2025.The FSS has publicly urged its fans to exhibit respectful behaviour during the England match.General secretary of the FSS, Branko Radujko, wrote in the match programme: “We are still under special monitoring of Uefa.“Every inappropriate reaction, insult or incident could cost us dearly on our path to the USA, Mexico and Canada, including the possibility of having to play a decisive match with Albania behind closed doors.“That is the reason I sincerely and seriously call on you: let us cheer from the heart but let it be fair. We can be loud but dignified. Let our support be a source of strength, not a risk for the national team.”Historically, Serbian fans have displayed nationalist and ethnic chants, particularly involving issues around Kosovo’s independence, which Serbia does not recognise.EPAIn October 2019, Gareth Southgate twice informed officials that his players had been targeted with racist abuse by Bulgarian fans[/caption]England players have also encountered racist abuse while playing against Serbia in the past.In 2007, the FSS was fined £16,000 after Serbian fans racially abused England’s Nedum Onuoha during an Under-21 match.In 2012, Danny Rose was sent off for kicking the ball away while reacting to racist chants during an U21 Euros qualifier.England captain Harry Kane said: “We had a meeting and discussed the Uefa protocols that are in place.“We don’t like to discuss it too much. Our focus is on the game. Anything can happen but we are not thinking about that.“We are prepared to do what Uefa protocols allow us to do. I thought we handled it well in Bulgaria [in 2019].“We are prepared, had a discussion and if it [racist abuse] does happen we will be prepared to do what is necessary.”Bulgaria had to play two matches behind closed doors — one suspended for two years — following their fans’ racist abuse of Three Lions players in a Euro 2020 qualifier.There have been recent cases where football matches were stopped due to racism, including a pre-season friendly between Salford City and York City in July 2025 that was abandoned after a player suffered racial abuse from a fan.