Southgate’s side will face Italy in the Nations League, The match is scheduled June 11 in a rerun of the final.
Gareth Southgate opens on playing games without fans
After a succession of pitch invasions marred the end of the domestic season, England manager Gareth Southgate labeled it a “embarrassment” for the national side to play without fans and appealed for improved behavior at stadiums.
Following riots during their Euro 2020 final last year, England was ordered to play their next two home games in UEFA competition without fans present.
Southgate’s side will face Italy in the Nations League on June 11 in a rerun of the final. The restriction on supporters attending the second game has been suspended for a two-year trial period.
Southgate revealed to sources, “We’re on a yellow card, and we’re embarrassed to be playing behind closed doors at home,”
“We really do want to organise events.” This summer, we’ll have a women’s Euros here, which should be a wonderful experience for everyone… We’re speaking about something that might lose us the opportunity to undertake those type of stuff…”
Many pitch incursions have happened in English football in recent weeks, with Aston Villa’s Robin Olsen, Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp, and Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira all involved in on-field disputes with supporters.
“If it’s in our atmosphere, we want to do all we can to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Southgate added. “It’s a broader issue, a reflection of where we are as a nation.”
“We wouldn’t want to go return to venues with gates up and the sort of atmosphere it produced.” Football has served as a vehicle for people who want to fight and do whatever they want at various points in my life.
“We don’t want to go back.”
England will kick off their Nations League A Group 3 campaign against Hungary on June 4 in Budapest, in a match that will also be held without supporters owing to disturbances during Hungary’s Euro 2020 games.
Three days later, England travels to Germany.