England cry foul after racist abuse mars victory

England are set to lodge an official complaint after racist abuse against several of their black players marred a comfortable 3-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday.

Two goals from a revitalised Wayne Rooney and a well-taken effort from defender Gary Cahill sealed an emphatic win for England, who have now opened up a three-point lead at the top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group.

But a satisfying night for England was soured by repeated monkey chanting from sections of the Bulgarian crowd against England players Chris Smalling, Ashley Cole, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott.

Bulgaria coach Lothar Matthaus later decried the abuse and issued an apology on behalf of the Bulgarian FA after English officials confirmed they had raised the matter with a UEFA observer.

“... I can say it’s pitiful when such things happen,” Matthaus said at a post-match press conference.

“Because of that I would like to apologise on behalf of the Bulgarian Football Union.”

England goal hero Rooney said his team-mates had been aware of the abuse during the Group G match at the Vasil Levski Stadium, where the visitors effectively sealed victory in the first half after surging into a 3-0 lead.

“As players we could hear it on the pitch. It has been going on for years and it is not right,” Rooney said.

“It needs to stop and hopefully something will be done about it.”

Winger Walcott acknowledged he had heard the abuse.

“I was aware. It was very clear,” the Arsenal winger said.

“I ignored it, but that is me. The result tonight was the important thing.”

England have suffered repeated episodes of racist abuse on their travels in Europe before, most notably in Madrid in 2004 and Zagreb in 2007.

England captain John Terry admitted he was baffled by the abuse.

“You don’t expect that at all,” Terry said. “It was a great spectacle for everyone to watch this evening. Let’s not let that spoil it.”

England’s win left Fabio Capello’s side three points clear at the top of Group G, after Wales defeated second-placed Montenegro 2-1 in the pool’s other game on Friday.

If England pick up a further three points against Wales at Wembley next week, they will need only a point from their final game in Montenegro on October 7 to guarantee qualification.

Capello had sprung a surprise in his starting line-up, omitting Frank Lampard for the first time in four years after choosing to partner Scott Parker and Gareth Barry in central midfield ahead of the back four.

England’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with Liverpool’s Stewart Downing and Walcott either side of Young behind Rooney, proved too much for Bulgaria who were soon buckling under the superior movement of the visitors.

After a scrappy opening, England took the lead on 13 minutes through Cahill, preferred at centre-half by Capello despite strong claims to a debut cap for Manchester United’s promising teenager Phil Jones.

A corner from Young was cleared only as far as Barry, whose pass picked out Cahill in space leaving the defender free to poke home beyond advancing Bulgaria goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov. After 21 minutes the match was effectively settled as a contest when Rooney punished abysmal marking by the Bulgarian defence to head home a Downing corner for his 27th international goal.

Rooney bagged his 28th on the stroke of half-time after Parker broke up a Bulgarian attack with a brave headed block, and the ball fell to Walcott who went on a surging run upfield before releasing Young on the edge of the area.

Young then picked out Rooney at the far post for the simplest of tap-ins to leave England in control, with Bulgaria reduced to a couple of long-range potshots from Bolton’s Martin Petrov which failed to trouble Joe Hart.