FIFA set to slap ‘substantial’ punishment after England vs Serbia unsavoury incident

England ran out 5-0 winners against Serbia on Wednesday evening, but the hosts could be dealt further damage after the game was briefly paused for an unsavoury incident

Serbia are bracing for a hefty fine following the “dangerous” use of a laser by their fans during the match against England.

The Three Lions faced off against Serbia on Wednesday evening, marking the most resounding victory of the Thomas Tuchel era to date. England run riot in a 5-0 triumph – with Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Mark Guehi and Marcus Rashford all getting on the scoresheet.

The home team was reduced to 10-men at 3-0 when Nikola Milenkovic was sent off by referee Clement Turpin towards the end of the match.

However, an unusual incident occurred when England’s Ezri Konsa had a laser pointed at his face from someone in the crowd. Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, Paul Robinson said: “Ezri Konsa immediately stopped. You could see the flash on his shirt. He put his hands to his eyes. A clear green laser pen must have shone in his face.”

Referee Clement Turpin promptly paused the game, followed by an announcement over the stadium’s public address system urging those responsible to cease shining the light. Despite no further incidents, former FIFA referee Keith Hackett predicts that the Serbian FA may now be facing severe repercussions.

In a chat with Football Insider, he stated: “The use of a laser is dangerous and unacceptable. Turpin, the French referee, is a very experienced referee and will have been informed.

“The match observer in attendance will have requested the announcement be made. The matter will be reported to the authorities and Serbia will be sanctioned with a substantial fine.”

Serbia were already compelled to stage the match with a reduced-capacity crowd. FIFA had imposed this sanction following racist chanting during a previous encounter against Andorra.

The Serbian FA have also been hit with fines exceeding £600,000 by FIFA and UEFA in recent years for “various prohibited items, insults, and discrimination in the stands”. Branko Radujko, the FSS general secretary, had pleaded with supporters to conduct themselves properly before kick-off – an appeal that appeared to go unheeded.

“We are still under special monitoring of UEFA,” he wrote in the matchday programme. “Every inappropriate reaction, insult or incident could cost us dearly on our path to the USA, Mexico and Canada, including the possibility of having to play a decisive match with Albania behind closed doors.

“That is the reason I sincerely and seriously call on you: let us cheer from the heart but let it be fair. We can be loud but dignified. Let our support be a source of strength, not a risk for the national team.”