FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

England manager Glenn Hoddle slammed the fans who booed winger Darren Anderton and taunted England’s Manchester United players during the 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia at Wembley on Saturday.

A section of fans jeered the Spurs striker, who has been out of football for almost two years with a groin injury, as he struggled to come to terms with the pace of international football. “It was totally unjustified and the people booing don’t understand the game of football,”  said an angry Hoddle.

“I don’t know where they’re coming from. I wanted to see 90 minutes out of him and he worked up and down tirelessly. His use of the ball was excellent and he will be better for getting that game under his belt.”He showed strength and character to come through his first international after being out so long. A lot of other players might have crumbled. “If 15,000 people start booing you it can have an affect on your performance. But he’s come though that. In the end they stopped booing him and I think they realised he put in a good stint.”   Hoddle also criticised a section of the crowd who persisted in anti-Manchester United chants, saying: “When you are playing at Wembley you are united but united for your country. We’ve had that sort of thing many years ago and I don’t like to see it creeping back. It’s unfair to the players.”