England Under-21 players were left outraged after discovering a supporter secretly filming them through a window as they changed following their European Championship qualifier in Kazakhstan.
The incident came shortly after the Young Lions opened their campaign with a 2-0 win at the Ortaliq Stadion on Monday.
Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, 18, opened the scoring before Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham doubled the lead within five first-half minutes to secure a comfortable victory.
But celebrations were overshadowed by footage that emerged on social media platform X, apparently filmed from outside the England dressing room.
England Under-21 players were left outraged after discovering a supporter secretly filming them through a window as they changed following their European Championship qualifier in Kazakhstan
|X
The short clip peers through a gap in a window to reveal several players inside.
The video begins with Nwaneri angrily pushing aside a curtain and striking the glass with a towel before disappearing from view.
Other players can then be seen sitting on benches before one member of staff notices the camera and tries to block the view with another towel. Confused squad members glance over as the recording continues.
The incident sparked anger within the camp, raising questions about security at the stadium.
JUST IN: ITV suffer backlash from football fans as England batter Serbia in World Cup qualifying match
It is unclear when exactly the clip was filmed, but its circulation online has been described as a serious breach of privacy.
Despite the off-field drama, England’s start to qualifying was otherwise a success.
Head coach Lee Carsley, fresh from leading the side to back-to-back European titles, oversaw another encouraging performance from his new-look squad.
His team dominated the first half in Almaty and never looked in danger after Bellingham and Nwaneri struck in quick succession.
**SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY GB NEWS SPORTS NEWSLETTER HERE**
🚨 It is reported that the England U21 youth team was unhappy about being filmed in the locker room. One of the most vocal opponents of this was Ethan Nwaneri, who strongly opposed it. 😡 pic.twitter.com/WOJqDCpjKS
— Scout in Eurasia (@scout_eurasia) September 9, 2025
The victory followed on from Carsley’s triumph in June, when England lifted the U21 Euros by beating Germany 3-2 in Slovakia thanks to a Jonathan Rowe winner.
Now aiming for a third consecutive title, Carsley’s squad features several highly-rated talents who are expected to push for senior recognition in the coming years.
England will continue their qualification campaign next month with a trip to Moldova before returning home to host Andorra at Derby County’s Pride Park on October 13.
For Nwaneri, the win capped another milestone in a breakthrough year.
The Arsenal prodigy became the youngest Premier League player in history at 15 in 2022 and has quickly established himself as one of the brightest talents in the national setup. Bellingham, the younger brother of Real Madrid star Jude, also enhanced his reputation with a composed display and well-taken goal.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
England Under-21s continue to shine under the guidance of Lee Carsley
|PA
But both goalscorers were among those affected by the unwanted intrusion in Kazakhstan, an incident that risks overshadowing England’s strong start to qualifying.
Officials are now expected to review security protocols to ensure player privacy is properly safeguarded during future matches abroad.
The Football Association has not yet commented publicly on the video, but privately the mood is reported to be one of anger and frustration.