Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings: Make the punishment fit crime on racists
Villa skipper Tyrone Mings said he had been unaware of fan trouble at the start of England’s World Cup qualifier but hopes a suitable punishment is meted out to anyone found guilty of racist abuse.
“Obviously it’s very difficult for me to speak too freely on an issue that is to do with the police,” said Mings, who played 90 minutes in the heart of England’s defence.
“Every time we speak about racial abuse the punishments that then follow never seem to quite be in line with what’s happened.
“But I guess I can’t speak too freely unless I know the facts and I sincerely hope that if that was the case then the punishment this time fits what’s happened.”
Hungary fans, just like last month in Budapest, expressed their opposition to England players taking the knee before kick-off, with a banner displayed underlining their stance.
“We’re certainly doing good things and I don’t think we’ve ever come away from our stance,” Mings said.
“We’ve faced backlash or criticism or opposition views before and we’ve stood collectively quite passionately together.
“That’s something that I think carries us as a squad, I think the togetherness people see is there and that doesn’t change based on banners, people’s views or based on people being opposed to what we stand for. It makes no difference to me.”
