Gareth Southgate says playing behind closed doors embarrassing for England

Gareth Southgate and his England squad will be facing up to the “embarrassment” of playing behind closed doors against Italy in the Nations League next month as the Three Lions boss admits recent fan behaviour is a concern.

England play four group fixtures in June, with away games in Hungary and Germany followed up by the visit of Italy and the reverse match against the Hungarians.

The opening clash at the Puskas Arena will take place in front of an empty stadium on June 4 after racist incidents marred England’s last trip to Budapest.

England’s game against Italy will be behind closed doors at Molineux after the Football Association was hit with sanctions following crowd trouble when the two teams met at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final last summer.

The games come on the back of a domestic season which ended with a spate of high-profile pitch invasions across the country.

Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp was struck by a Nottingham Forest fan, while Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira was in an altercation with an Everton supporter, and Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was mobbed as Manchester City followers flocked onto the pitch to celebrate their Premier League title win.

Asked if England got off leniently with a two-game ban on supporters, with one match suspended for 24 months, Southgate replied: “Well, we’re on a yellow card, aren’t we?

“So we are where we are, we’ve got the embarrassment now of playing behind closed doors at home.

“Normally when you watch those things having happened abroad we’re all grandstanding about how it’s someone else’s problem and how this country should be dealt with and now it’s us. Again that’s not a good optic for our country.”

Southgate conceded he was unsure if the stadium closure