Football bosses must take ‘right action’ over racist chanting – Harry Kane

England football captain Harry Kane has said it is vital that the sport’s leaders take the right action over racism as he collected his MBE from Buckingham Palace.

The 25-year-old praised his team-mates for how they handled racist abuse chanted at them during their 5-1 win over Montenegro in Podgorica on Monday.

He said: “I am just proud of how the boys have handled it. When stuff like that happens it’s about more than football but the boys focused on their job, didn’t let it affect them and it proved the best way of proving those people wrong is by winning the game and scoring goals.

“It’s important that the people in charge take the right action because it is not acceptable in any country or any field or sport or job.”

The Tottenham striker was awarded an MBE for services to football and in recognition of England’s semi-final run at the 2018 World Cup in the Queen’s 2019 New Year Honours list.

He collected his honour from the Duke of Cambridge during a ceremony at the palace on Thursday.

Speaking after the ceremony, Kane said he had been worried about messing up his part.

He added: “I’m so proud, it’s a bit out the comfort zone to be off the pitch, but it’s a great day for me and my family.

“With football you’re in your comfort zone, even in front of thousands of people. Here, you don’t want to mess anything up.”