Southgate apologised to Rose for ‘having a go’ without knowing of racist abuse

The England manager has opened up on how he felt the need to apologise to former Tottenham Hotspur and current Watford full-back after he was racially abused against Montenegro

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England boss Gareth Southgate has recalled the time he apologised to defender Danny Rose on a flight home from international duty after finding out the 31-year-old had been racially abused.

In March 2019, a number of England’s black players including Rose and Raheem Sterling were subject to racist chants and taunts from the home fans during a 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifier victory in Podgorica.

Sterling actually scored England’s fifth, cupping his ears with his hands in celebration as a response to the same fans who had been guilty of the vile chanting throughout the game.

Shortly after, Rose suffered even more abuse as the game was slowly drawing to a close as he was booked for a late challenge in second-half stoppage time.

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Southgate has since admitted he was critical of his defender after the game for picking up the yellow card, without realising the abuse some of his players had suffered from the first whistle.

The Three Lions boss also explained how the incidents that took place that night went on to inspire England’s decision to take the knee throughout the entirety of Euro 2020 as an anti-racism gesture.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Southgate said: “This decision we took last year (to take a knee) from a team perspective really started in Montenegro when Raheem and Danny suffered abuse during the game.

“I wasn’t aware until very close to the end of the game when Danny Rose got booked and there was a reaction from the crowd.

“I didn’t realise earlier in the game at the other side of the pitch there had been racist abuse going on.

“So when we got in the changing room, I’m having a go at Danny for getting booked and I had to apologise on the plane because it suddenly emerged this had been going on during the game.”

Southgate continued, explaining how the fact he felt the players were unable to voice their upset and frustration sparked his support for taking the knee as a means of raising the issue of racism in all sport, not just football.

“I didn’t like the fact that the boys couldn’t mention it in the dressing room at half-time or report it,” the England boss said.

“So for me it was like “god this is awful, how is this environment where our players are allowed to be abused on the pitch and they don’t even feel comfortable to report it or feel that anything is going to happen.”

In the wake of the incident, UEFA ordered Montenegro to play a game behind closed doors and fined them €20,000 (£17,253).

Rose has previously explained how he was ‘lost for words’ upon hearing about the punishment UEFA deemed sufficient.