Cologne, Germany – England defender Ezri Konsa has revealed that the families and friends of England players were struck by beer cups thrown “from all angles” following their goalless draw with Slovenia in a Euro 2024 Group C match on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the stands of the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, where the families and friends of the players were seated.
The trouble began after the final whistle, as England manager Gareth Southgate approached the stands to applaud the traveling supporters.
As he did so, a few plastic beer cups were aimed in his direction. However, it was later reported that more cups were hurled around the stadium, some of which landed in the section reserved for the players’ families and friends.
Aston Villa’s Konsa, who played a significant role in the match, confirmed that the players were aware of the incident and that it had affected their loved ones.
“We were aware of it because I think some of our family members got hit with a few drinks,” Konsa said. “We check on them. There are kids in the stands with family, so we always have to check on them, reassure them, and ask if they’re all right.”
The defender added that the players knew Southgate had been targeted but had “not spoken about it as players” or raised it with him.
Despite the unsettling nature of the incident, Konsa tried to downplay its significance, suggesting it was an unfortunate part of football culture. “In football, stuff like that happens,” he said. “We try not to think about it too much, so we move on.”
Konsa recounted that his brother was among those hit by the flying beer cups. “My brother was hit, a few others. I spoke to him after, I asked him how he was, and he said he was fine,” Konsa shared. “It was to the right [of the stadium]; it wasn’t directly behind the goal, but it was coming from all angles.”
The incident has not been formally discussed within the team, and there has been no official comment from the Football Association. Reports suggest that the players’ partners and friends were not deliberately targeted by those who threw the cups, but were rather caught in the crossfire of disgruntled fans.
England topped Group C despite the draw and are set to face Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday. The team will undoubtedly hope to put this incident behind them as they prepare for the knockout stages of the tournament.
Fan behavior has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, and incidents like these underscore the ongoing challenges faced by organizers and authorities in ensuring the safety and well-being of players and their families.
As England advances in Euro 2024, the focus will not only be on their performance on the pitch but also on the conduct of their supporters off it.
The match itself saw a resilient Slovenia side holding England to a 0-0 draw, a result that nevertheless saw England secure top spot in their group.
With the Round of 16 match looming, Southgate and his team will need to concentrate on their upcoming challenge while also hoping for better behavior from their supporters.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
