Gareth Southgate insists fans only have themselves to blame should Harry Kane become England’s top scorer in an empty stadium when the Three Lions play behind closed doors twice after Ivory Coast friendly
- Gareth Southgate says fans only have themselves to blame for their behaviour
- England face Ivory Coast, before then playing two fixtures behind closed doors
- Harry Kane’s been backed to become England’s leading scorer by Southgate
- The 28-year-old needs just four goals to become the Three Lions’ top scorer
Gareth Southgate believes England fans will only have themselves to blame if Harry Kane becomes the country’s leading scorer in an empty stadium.
It is now a question of when and where Kane, whose penalty against Switzerland drew him level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 goals, will leapfrog the current record holder Wayne Rooney on 53. The captain has now scored eight goals in his last three appearances.
Kane will look to take a step closer to immortality against Ivory Coast on Tuesday, when Wembley will once again be full, but after that two of the next three fixtures will be played behind closed doors as a consequence of bad fan behaviour.
Gareth Southgate says England only have themselves to blame for their behaviour
The England boss has backed 28-year-old forward Harry Kane to become his side’s top scorer
No supporters will be present in Budapest for the opening Nations League game on June 4, after FIFA punished Hungary for their fans racially abusing England players in a World Cup qualifier last September.
England then face Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 7 before they take on Italy at Molineux on June 11. No fans will be in the stadium for that contest because of the chaos that erupted at the European Championship final last July.
Wembley was packed when Rooney broke Charlton’s record against Switzerland in September 2015 and there would be something very eerie if Kane was to set a new one in near silence.
Southgate hopes that will not be the case but, if it happens, he recognises there can be no complaints.
‘I don’t think Harry will worry where he is playing in terms of the opportunity to break the record,’ said Southgate.
‘Of course, it would be lovely if it was at Wembley and if it was in the World Cup final it would be absolutely fine!
Kane, 28, netted against Switzerland, and will be looking to help England to glory in Qatar
‘But it would be hugely unfortunate if it was to happen with no fans. The games behind closed doors? Frankly we have seen and had enough of them.
‘For both countries, it is a punishment because our fans and their fans (Hungary’s) weren’t able to control themselves.
‘That’s an embarrassment for us but it is the situation we have got. It would be particularly sad if that was the game where Harry broke the record.’
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