James Lawton: Our own house must be kept clean of racism

It is unfortunate that the problems of the England national team may be compounded by the possibility of playing behind closed doors at Wembley. But if there was indeed racist content in the anti-Ferdinand chanting in Montenegro, there is only one sensible reaction: so be it.

We are hard enough on the racism that occurs so routinely in eastern and southern Europe. We say it is vile and unacceptable and we are right.

It does mean, though, that our house needs to be cleaned as thoroughly as any other. The racists who claim to be England supporters have to be hosed away and one night of an empty Wembley might not be too high a price.