England Under-15s Walk Off in Baku After Alleged Racist Slur, Match Abandoned

England's Under-15 team walked off the pitch during their World Cup match against Republic of Ireland, and the game was abandoned. England alleged that an Irish player had used a racist slur. Ireland were leading 4-1 at the time.

The alleged incident came in the final minute of the Group C match in Baku, Azerbaijan. England head coach Matt Thorpe took his players off after reporting the complaint to the referee. An England assistant coach told the referee "we are reporting racism" and "we do not want to play", according to BBC Sport.

This is the first time the Under-15 World Cup and Festival has been played. It involves 189 countries and territories. The matches are played eight-a-side, on smaller pitches than the full-size game, with two 20-minute halves.

Football's world governing body, FIFA, said the referee abandoned the match after England refused to continue. FIFA has said it is gathering official reports on the incident. It will also refer the matter to its independent disciplinary committee, the panel that decides whether anyone should be punished.

For the players involved, most of them still at school, the decision to leave the field was a big one to take in the middle of a tournament. It also means a result that was going one way on the scoreboard will not be settled by the football. What happens next will depend on the reports and the disciplinary process. No findings have been announced so far.

Racism has been a recurring problem in football at every age, and the way clubs and federations respond is watched closely. Walking off is a rare step at youth level, and it puts the question of how such complaints are handled in the spotlight. For now, the score stands as it was when the referee stopped play, and the questions about the final minute remain open.