Uefa's three-step protocol for dealing with racism at matches is as follows:

1. The referee will speak to the stadium announcer and demand the halting of racist behaviour.
2. If it continues, the referee can take the players off the field into the dressing rooms for a period of time and the stadium announcer will make another address.
3. If it still continues, the match will be abandoned.

England manager Gareth Southgate and midfielder Raheem Sterling say they have to have faith in the Uefa three-step protocol when it comes to tackling racism within football.

Have a listen.

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Bulgaria coach Krasimir Balakov has accused England of having a bigger racism problem than his own country before tonight's Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia,

The build-up to the game has been overshadowed by fears England's players could be subjected to abuse after they were targeted during the qualifier against Montenegro in Podgorica in March.

England will face Bulgaria with a section of the Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski closed following incidents of racism during games against Kosovo and the Czech Republic in June.

England manager Gareth Southgate held a meeting with his players to underline the Uefa protocol in dealing with such incidents - but the subject has provoked an angry response from the Bulgarian football authorities and now coach Balakov has also hit back defiantly.

Bulgaria Football Union president Borislav Mihaylov wrote a letter of complaint to Uefa about "unjust branding" while Balakov said: "What I can say is that I don't think we have a problem.

"In the Bulgarian championship, we have a lot of players of different ethnicities and skin colour. I don't think that we have this big problem like, for example, England do."

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We will come back to the Czech Republic-Northern Ireland game close to kick-off, but let's have a look at few bits from the Bulgaria-England match later this evening...

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Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill believes Monday's friendly against the Czech Republic could be good practice for a potential Euro 2020 play-off.

NI's chances of qualifying for the finals through the group were significantly reduced by Thursday's last-gasp 3-1 defeat by the Netherlands.

However, finishing third in the group would give O'Neill's men a strong chance of securing a play-off spot.

"This is a good game for the players against a good opponent," he said.

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Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill experiments with his formation and personnel as he makes six changes from the side which lost 3-1 to the Netherlands in a Euro 2020 Group C qualifier in agonising fashion on Thursday.

O'Neill has opted for a 3-5-2 formation with Tom Flanagan joining experienced Premier League duo Craig Cathcart and Jonny Evans in defence.

Michael McGovern replaces Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal.

Conor McLaughlin comes in at right wing-back, with Stuart Dallas operating on the opposite flank.

Jordan Thompson is called in to start in midfield, while Gavin Whyte and Liam Boyce are named in striking roles.

The Czech Republic starting line-up shows just one survivor from that which beat England 2-1 on Friday - Alex Kral retaining his place.

Czech Republic XI: Pavlenka, Reznik, Simic, Kudela, Krejci, Husbauer, Kalvach, Zmrhal, Kral, Kopic, Krmencik.

Northern Ireland XI: McGovern, Cathcart, Jonny Evans, Flanagan, McLaughlin, McNair, Davis, Thompson, Dallas, Boyce, Whyte.

A mix of qualifiers and friendlies tonight. Here is what we have:

GROUP A

Bulgaria v England

Kosovo v Montenegro

GROUP B

Lithuania v Serbia

Ukraine v Portugal

GROUP H

France v Turkey

Iceland v Andorra

Moldova v Albania

FRIENDLIES (18:00 BST)

Czech Republic v Northern Ireland

Egypt v Botswana

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Friday's defeat in the Czech Republic was described as "one of the worst performances of Gareth Southgate's reign".

For all the progress made over the last couple of years, it felt like two steps back.

But the Three Lions can make amends tonight against Bulgaria, knowing victory will guarantee a spot at Euro 2020...

...if Kosovo fail to beat Montenegro.