Over 30,000 people, children and their carers, will attend the Nations League match between Hungary and England on Saturday in Budapest despite the closed session decided by UEFA following racist incidents during Euro 2021 To circumvent the closed session, the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) used a provision of the UEFA regulations which allows children under the age of 14 to be invited, accompanied by adults on a one-to-ten basis.
UEFA had handed Hungary three games behind closed doors (penalty reduced to two on appeal) because of homophobic and racist slogans uttered by fans during matches against France, Portugal and England in June 2021. More than 30,000 people have registered” for this Group 3 match which will take place at the Puskas Arena, Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) spokesman Jeno Sipos told AFP.
Last September, FIFA also sanctioned Hungary with two games behind closed doors, one of which was suspended, and a fine of 200,000 Swiss francs (195,000 euros) for racist remarks which had targeted the England team during of a match in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against England.