Race taunt row as England make the semi-finals

Stuart Pearce's youngsters became the first England team to reach the last four of a major tournament since Euro 96 when goals from Leroy Lita and Matt Derbyshire secured victory and second place in Group B. Holland will be their semi-final opponents on Wednesday in Heerenveen.

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On target: Leroy Lita

Such had been the drama of the night that Tom Huddlestone's late sending-off almost went unnoticed. Dismissed for foul language only two minutes after coming on as sub, the Spurs midfielder should feel embarrassed this morning.

The England team hotel outside Arnhem is likely to be visited by UEFA officials today as Europe's governing body endeavours to get to the bottom of the disgraceful scenes that marred this occasion.

With Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha abused by a group of Serbia supporters during the first half, prompting an appeal for calm by the stadium announcer, this was a night that had a sour taste to it almost from the outset.

But a controversial second goal from Derbyshire late in the game saw the disorder spread from the stands to the field and the night ended with allegations of spitting and racist abuse made against Serbian players in the tunnel.

Pearce said: "My players have done what I wanted them to do. They have turned the other cheek, and got on with it but there were incidents of provocation from the stands and in the tunnel after.

Crowd trouble: Players clash after England's second goal

"It's no good a manager sitting here bleating about this. It's up to the powers that be to do something."

Of Huddlestone's sending- off, Pearce added: "He has held his hands up, so credit to him. He will learn from this."

It is understood that Arsenal right back Justin Hoyte was the target for racist comments as the players went off while Derbyshire is believed to have been spat at.

Though the incidents are not thought to be serious enough to threaten Serbia's place in the competition - despite last night's defeat the Balkan nation still won the group - UEFA will want to be seen to act quickly and firmly.

A UEFA spokesman said last night: "We will wait to receive the delegate's report before instigating any disciplinary proceedings."

Understandably Pearce was keen to discuss football matters after seeing his side recover from the disappointment of an opening draw with the Czech Republic to hold the strong Italians to a 2-2 draw, then beat Miroslav Djukic's side to ensure progress last night.

The bare facts are that Lita scored from close range in the fifth minute to give England the lead against a Serbia team missing nine of the side who beat the Czechs on Thursday. Then Derbyshire ran clear to settle the game on 76 minutes.

Though the abuse aimed at Onuoha in the first half was bad enough, it was Derbyshire's goal that really lit the blue touchpaper among the Serbs.

Crucial to their complaints was the fact that central defender Slobodan Rajkovic was lying injured as Derbyshire ran on to Kieran Richardson's pass. In fact, he was actually playing him onside.

The Serbs clearly thought that England should have kicked the ball out of play, and had Pearce's players not kept their heads, UEFA could have had a mass brawl on their hands, too, as they were surrounded by angry opponents.

England winger James Milner said: "Their player was already down when their goalkeeper took a goal-kick so I don't see how they could expect us to kick the ball out for them."