The English football team have launched an anti-racism campaign after its black players became the target of verbal abuse in the Bulgarian capital Sofia last week.

The England players wore sweatbands bearing the message "Kick Racism Out of Football" on Monday as they participated in a training session in preparation for Tuesday evening's clash with Wales at Wembley.

"This sends out a positive and powerful message that we need to remind ourselves that the game is open to all people from all backgrounds and nationalities, and to keep our behaviour in check even in the white heat international football can generate," the chair of the campaign Lord Herman Ouseley told local media.

The England team will also wear anti-racism wristbands during their Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales.

England's Football Association has launched a complaint with UEFA and the Bulgarian Football Union over racist abuse during the Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia targeting the black players of both teams.

The fits of racism by some of the Bulgarian fans in Sofia marred Friday night's match, which ended in a crushing 0:3 victory for England.

The papers in the UK point out there was a "repeated monkey chanting" from sections of the Bulgarian at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, especially directed against England players Chris Smalling, Ashley Cole, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott.

Several English players made it clear they were aware of the abuse hurled at them by the sections of the audience.

The racist abuse in question also targeted Bulgaria's naturalized Brazilian playmaker Marcos Marquinhos, who is also black after he came on as a substitute.

Bulgaria's head coach Lothar Matthaeus has been quick to issue an apology on behalf of the Bulgarian Football Union with respect to the racist outbursts by some of the football hooligans.

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