Serbia are set to be hit with a significant fine after a laser was shone in the face of England defender Ezri Konsa during Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.
Thomas Tuchel’s side recorded their most emphatic victory of his tenure with a 5-0 triumph at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.
Goals from Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Konsa, Marc Guehi and Marcus Rashford sealed a comfortable win, while Serbia finished the match with 10 men after Nikola Milenkovic was sent off in the second half.
The game, however, was briefly halted in the first period when Konsa appeared to be struck in the eyes by a green laser from the crowd.
Serbia are set to be hit with a significant fine after a laser was shone in the face of England defender Ezri Konsa during Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier in Belgrade
|GETTY
French referee Clement Turpin quickly stopped play before a stadium announcement urged those responsible to cease the behaviour.
The game resumed without further incident, but former FIFA referee Keith Hackett believes the Serbian FA will face serious consequences.
“The use of a laser is dangerous and unacceptable,” Hackett told Football Insider.
“Turpin, the French referee, is a very experienced referee and will have been informed.
JUST IN: Former Premier League referee David Coote charged with creating indecent video of a child
"The match observer in attendance will have requested the announcement be made. The matter will be reported to the authorities and Serbia will be sanctioned with a substantial fine.”
The incident adds to Serbia’s growing list of disciplinary issues.
Wednesday’s match was already played in front of a reduced-capacity crowd as punishment for racist chanting in a previous qualifier against Andorra.
In recent years, FIFA and UEFA have fined the Serbian FA more than £600,000 for offences ranging from discriminatory behaviour to the use of prohibited items in the stands.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
Ezri Konsa was targeted by Serbia fans during Tuesday night's showdown in Belgrade
|PA
Ahead of the game, Serbian officials had publicly pleaded with supporters to avoid further trouble.
Branko Radujko, general secretary of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), issued a warning in the matchday programme.
“We are still under special monitoring of UEFA,” he wrote.
“Every inappropriate reaction, insult or incident could cost us dearly on our path to the USA, Mexico and Canada, including the possibility of having to play a decisive match with Albania behind closed doors.
“That is the reason I sincerely and seriously call on you: let us cheer from the heart but let it be fair.
"We can be loud but dignified. Let our support be a source of strength, not a risk for the national team.”
His appeal went unheeded, and UEFA is now expected to open disciplinary proceedings in the coming days.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
England were outstanding on Tuesday night as they smashed Serbia 5-0 to extend their unbeaten World Cup qualifying run under Thomas Tuchel
|GETTY
For England, the incident did not disrupt a dominant performance that keeps their qualifying campaign on track.
And Tuchel was delighted with his side's win, with the 52-year-old saying: “We had an excellent week from start to finish in which they proved what I see every day in this camp, and that makes me very happy.”
He added: “We played with a lot of intensity. We put a lot of work in. There was teamwork in its purest form and, from there, we showed our quality."