England players were targeted with racial abuse by some Hungary supporters during Thursday’s World Cup qualifier in Budapest on Thursday, British broadcasters reported.

ITV and Sky Sports said their pitchside reporters heard racist ‘monkey chants’ aimed at England forward Raheem Sterling and substitute Jude Bellingham.

England players took the knee in an anti-racist gesture before the game and were loudly booed at the Puskas Arena.

Sterling was then pelted with plastic cups by fans after he scored the opening goal in the second half and celebrated by the corner flag near to Hungary’s hardcore ‘ultras’ fans.

England manager Gareth Southgate said he was not aware of the racist incidents during the game but reiterated the team’s stance on racism.

“I can only go off what you are telling me and if that is the case then we know it is unacceptable,” he told Sky Sports.

“We weren’t conscious of it on the side and I don’t know whether the players on the pitch were but I think everyone knows what we have talked about for two or three years,” he said.