Albanians condemn abuse of black Englishmen

The Albanian authorities have said they will take action against any football fans taunting black players with racial abuse during tonight's international between Albania and England in Tirana.

The announcement follows complaints that two English players Darius Vassell and Shola Ameobi were targets of abuse during an Under-21 match on Tuesday.

A spokesman for football's world governing body, FIFA, said the abuse was the worst he had ever heard.

The trouble was caused by a small minority of a very small crowd. But correspondents say a packed crowd of eighteen-thousand is expected for tonight's game -- and ensuring there is no repetition of the abuse may not be easy.

More than a thousand England fans are expected to attend.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service