Tammy Abraham: England will walk off if racially abused during Euro 2020 qualifiers

The second game, in Sofia, will be closely watched as the hosts will be playing in the Vasil Levski National Stadium, partially closed as a sanction following previous incidents of racism.

England’s players received similar abuse in their qualifier against Montenegro in Podgorica earlier this year, where they stayed on the pitch and won 5-1.

Southgate has said England will follow Uefa’s three-step protocol for racial abuse.

The first step is for the referee to be made aware of any racism and halt the game for an announcement to be made. If the abuse continues, the referee will suspend the game for a period of time. The third and final step will see the official abandon the game.

But Abraham, 22, suggested that if England’s players believe someone is not comfortable, captain Harry Kane could lead them off the pitch before the three steps are played out if they are not working.

“We’ve touched base on how to deal with the situation,” said the Chelsea forward. “Harry Kane even said that if it happens and we’re not happy with it, we speak to the player and if he’s not happy, we all come off the pitch together. It’s a team thing. Don’t isolate one person, we’re a whole team. If it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.”

In Thursday night action in the qualifiers, Belgium, the world’s top-ranked nation, will become the first team to qualify if they beat last-place San Marino in Group I. With the top two qualifying from each group, there’s a chance Russia, who are eight points clear in second place, could also advance by beating Scotland.

Italy hold a six-point lead in Group J, and are guaranteed to qualify with victories over Greece and Liechtenstein over the next week.

Spain enjoy the biggest lead in European qualifying — by seven points in Group F — and might just need one victory in their matches at Norway and Sweden to advance.