England's World Cup qualifier against Serbia was briefly paused in the first half after a laser pointer was aimed at players, with Chelsea's Reece James and Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa believed to be the targets. Referee Clement Turpin stopped the match following the incident, which drew jeers from home supporters at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson described the moment: '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.'
The Football Association has demanded action from UEFA, citing concerns over player safety. England led 2-0 at the time, with goals from Harry Kane and Noni Madueke. The match was played in front of a reduced capacity crowd due to Serbia's punishment for racist chanting during a previous qualifier against Andorra.
England captain Harry Kane had earlier stated the team was prepared to walk off if racial abuse occurred, following UEFA protocols. 'We are prepared to do what UEFA protocols allow us to do,' he said. A victory would put England eight points clear of Serbia and on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
