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Bellingham showcases talent for England amid UEFA's racism missteps

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 3, 2026, 8:06 PM

Last updated Oct 3, 2026

Bellingham showcases talent for England amid UEFA's racism missteps

Summary

England played against a backdrop of controversy in Rijeka on October 3, with children allowed into the venue after adult fans were banned, which drew criticism for its appropriateness. Despite the situation, England displayed impressive performance on the pitch. The atmosphere created by thousands of young fans was noted as overwhelming. Discussion continues about the implications of UEFA's decisions regarding fan attendance and their impact on football culture.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

Status Watch

•Match held in Rijeka on October 3.
•Children allowed into the venue after a ban on adults.
•The atmosphere was described as overwhelming due to the number of young fans.
•England's performance on the pitch was viewed as impressive.
•Debate persists regarding UEFA's policies on fan attendance.

Latest Updates

8:06 PMThe Guardian Sport — Bellingham stands out for high-grade England but Uefa sends out wrong message on racism | Barney Ronay

What they're saying

"
Allowing children in after a ban on adult fans was wrong in the extreme but on the pitch England showed genuine class So … can we play another World Cup, then? Can we just undo and rewind? Forget whatever it was you thought you saw in Atlanta. We’re actually ready now. Although not, repeat not, if any part of this involves playing football in front of 6,000 excitable children, the combined effect of which was to create an atmosphere in Rijeka the adult human ear is simply not designed to process. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Barney Ronay at Stadion HNK Rijeka

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