FIFA to take no action regarding bust-up between England and Poland players last month

FIFA to take NO action over bust-up between England and Poland players last month due to lack of evidence – after Polish FA denied any racist remarks by  defender Kamil Glik in furious row with Kyle Walker which triggered scuffle

  • FIFA have decided against opening any disciplinary proceedings for the incident
  • World governing body had asked for observations from the FA and the Polish FA 
  • Kamil Glik and Kyle Walker were involved in an exchange shortly before half-time
  • Glik grabbed part of Kyle Walker’s throat and his team-mates furiously reacted
  • It sparked a scuffle between both teams that saw Glik and Harry Maguire booked

FIFA will take no disciplinary action over the confrontation between England full-back Kyle Walker and Poland defender Kamil Glik during last month’s World Cup qualifier in Warsaw due to a lack of evidence.

The pair clashed at the end of the first half in the match on September 8, sparking a wider melee which also involved Walker’s England team-mate Harry Maguire.

It is understood Football Association officials immediately reported the incident to the FIFA match delegate, with the Polish federation denying any racist element to the confrontation.

Both associations were later asked for their observations on the incident by FIFA, which has decided there is insufficient evidence to open proceedings.

A spokesperson for the world governing body said: ‘After a thorough assessment which included relevant match reports, the FIFA disciplinary committee has decided not to open disciplinary proceedings in relation to Poland against England on September 8 due to insufficient evidence.

Kamil Glik grabbing Kyle Walker’s neck sparked a half-time brawl between England and Poland

Walker was left dumbfounded by Glik's pinch but his team-mates reacted furiously soon after

Walker was left dumbfounded by Glik’s pinch but his team-mates reacted furiously soon after

‘FIFA’s position remains firm and resolute in rejecting all forms of discrimination. In this particular case, no evidence has been produced to support further action.’

Both Glik and Maguire were shown yellow cards after the row, and footage quickly surfaced showing the former bizarrely pinching Walker’s neck at a free-kick, leading to the reaction from his Three Lions team-mates.

The two players were seen getting involved in a heated exchange just after the start of the break, with both aiming gestures at each other and clearly irked.

Broadcast cameras panned to the crowd initially, but quickly flashed back on to the pitch to show the brawl, with more and more stars piling in to intervene.

Glik and Harry Maguire exchanged stern words before referee Daniel Siebert had stepped in

Glik and Harry Maguire exchanged stern words before referee Daniel Siebert had stepped in

The two players were shown a yellow card by the referee, despite pleading their innocence

The two players were shown a yellow card by the referee, despite pleading their innocence

Glik, despite his grab on Walker, was guided towards the tunnel first, before the referee ordered him back to show him the yellow card.

After the booking was brandished to both men, Maguire was left to walk away, apparently bemused as to why he had also gone into the book.

Three Lions captain Harry Kane looked to pull away several of his colleagues, and the officials were eventually able to lower tensions and restore some control.

Polish football’s governing body squashed any suggestion that the half-time melee was sparked by racially motivated actions from their players.

Poland’s team manager Jakub Kwiatkowski told Sportsmail: ‘The English FA made a complaint to FIFA to review what happened at half-time.

Harry Kane pulled away several of his Three Lions colleagues after the altercation broke out

Harry Kane pulled away several of his Three Lions colleagues after the altercation broke out

It is understood that at half-time two officials from the FA, team manager Emily Webb and head of security Tony Conniford complained to fourth official Daniel Schlager who then lodged it with FIFA’s match commissioner.

Glik admitted trading insults with Walker and revealed that the Manchester City defender refused the offer of a handshake later on.

Glik said: ‘There was some scuffle. Later, I wanted to shake Walker’s hand but he didn’t accept it. There was some verbal scuffle but nothing more happened.’

The match ended 1-1 after Harry Kane’s thunderbolt was cancelled out by Damian Szymanski in stoppage time.

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