England kicked off their UEFA Nations League clash with Croatia in front of an empty stadium following the sanctions issued to the home side.
Up to 500 England fans made the journey to Rijeka despite the ban and had hoped to watch the game from a nearby vantage point.
Police had tried to block off the hill but a handful of fans made their way there anyway and could be heard chanting England songs during the match.
Journalists present at the match reported that England fans had managed to find their way onto the nearby hill, while other fans watched from rooftops and balconies overlooking the stadium.
Gareth Southgate had warned TV companies to expect a night of bad language due to the lack of noise from fans, and Sky gave a warning prior to kick-off to those watching that it may be more audible than usual.
While, some additional bad language was expected, the singing England fans in the distance were not.
They could be heard chanting songs about the Three Lions' from the hillside as they tried to spur Gareth Southgate's men.
Armourer
0
Full respect to the England supporters....Well done indeed
Bourdieu
0
Why should England be punished for something they did not do. And who decided on the way these groups were formed?
Derrick552
0
Hearing the fans on the hill is more entertaining than the match itself, credit to the England fans creating an atmosphere for a dull match!
powermanl
0
It's Sterling's fault Rashford missed twice.
OwenOwen
0
For a team that finished fourth in the WC, they are even more boring to watch than Man Utd
billionjuo
0
What exactly is the point in playing this game? The result doesn't matter and nobody is watching it.,
Kongka
0
They are on the hill, not the stadium. So, no breach.
face44
0
Switched off after 30minutes. Appalling
Kennethlie
0
A waste of 90 mins of my life.
CEO222
0
That would still be a 40,000 crowd if Arsenal's officials were counting. Mind you it was louder than the average emirates crowd.
realmad
0
It's empty stadium and not empty hills. Nothing wrong here. They have every right to watch it from the hills
Kathhy
0
So we had to go without the Premier League and Championship this weekend for this crap ???
sogani
0
Looks like a Bury flag? Good set of supporters tbf. Away day to Bury is always a fun one.
Nelsoner
0
What a waste of money, they should know that by now.
Frederice
0
Better off watching from home, at least you can switch it off.
Turkeys
0
Think themselves lucky they didn't get in
update
0
Albeit the score, The fans get better view than in the stadium.
xvidoeos
0
Why doesn't Kane or Rashford get the abuse Sterling gets as they both missed sitters? Also, very poor from the England players not ALL going over to the corner of the pitch and clapping those fans who made that massive effort to just watch half the game on a hill! Kane as captain should have made them all go over there, or at least Southgate, pathetic leadership.
CdKeyb
0
They should allow away fans in, it's the home fans that are being punished. Seems a bit unfair.
passioncc
0
Oh yes, the FIFA sanctions that say England supporters can't stand on a hill in Croatia. Dan those pesky rules.
Sueadam
0
Looks like a few white plastic chairs will be "relocated " tonight. If only there was some kind of cup for that......
poiul97
0
This was meant to be a punishment for Croatia.....surely being told ALL your home games have to played away is a punishment.....this looked like a equal punishment to England
Maxwelle
0
If they want to punish Croatian fans why ban the fans of their opponents as well, having said that the bigger punishment would be to make fans watch that negative, boring football.
west52
0
Those supporters on the hill behind the stadium probably got a better view of the game then spectators in the upper tier at St James' Park Newcastle.
Radionicse
0
The very fact that these sad people believed it would be a good idea to spend money on travelling over there to watch....from a hill..probably the most brutally boring game ever in the most pointless competition in the history of football, tells me they all need help.
kenzytalbe
1
tbh i slept till the match ended 😂😂😂
yuyuyu
0
What exactly is the point in playing this game? The result doesn't matter and nobody is watching it.,
It's a league, of course the result matters.
TKloveFCB
1
Why should England be punished for something they did not do. And who decided on the way these groups were formed?
Bettyshy
1
Be thankful for one occasion when that god awful attention seeking band aren't there...
Benjamins
1
Full respect to the England supporters....Well done indeed
king1995
2
Hearing the fans on the hill is more entertaining than the match itself, credit to the England fans creating an atmosphere for a dull match!
Balemardid
0
For a team that finished fourth in the WC, they are even more boring to watch than Man Utd
segeacion
0
What exactly is the point in playing this game? The result doesn't matter and nobody is watching it.,
operations
0
Like watching paint dry.
minicar
0
Still singing about 1966 I bet, sad sad england fans. Come on Croatia from all of Wales.
Robinhan
0
It's Sterling's fault Rashford missed twice.
humidity
0
They are on the hill, not the stadium. So, no breach.
zubayrking
0
Well done fans they are ready to die for their boys