The Football Association has complained to UEFA after racist abuse appeared to be directed towards Ashley Young by Bulgaria supporters during England's Euro 2012 qualifying match in Sofia.
The FA reported the behaviour of a section of home supporters to the UEFA match delegate. England captain John Terry had not heard the abuse during the game and said it was an issue for the FA and UEFA to deal with. But after England's 3-0 win, Terry told Sky Sports News it was a shock to learn of it.
He said: ''You don't expect that at all. It was a great spectacle for everyone to watch this evening. Let's not let that spoil it.''
Bulgaria boss Lothar Matthaus apologised for the conduct of the minority of his team's fans.
Like Terry before him, he admitted to being ''not very informed'' about what had occurred, having been focused on the match.
''But it is very pitiful for such things to happen,'' the German said at a post-match press conference. ''Because of that I would like to apologise on behalf of the Bulgarian Football Federation.''
England manager Fabio Capello had also missed the abuse during the match.
''I didn't hear it. I was focused on the game,'' the Italian said.
A spokesman for the FA confirmed: ''We've raised it with the Bulgarian FA and the UEFA delegate after the match. That's all we're saying about it.''
England have encountered racism problems on their travels before, most notably in Spain seven years ago when Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole were targeted by home spectators during a friendly played in Madrid.
On the pitch, goals from Gary Cahill and Wayne Rooney, who netted twice, put England in complete control by half-time and they remained in charge until the final whistle.
Terry told Sky Sports: ''It was a really good night. We were hoping for a good start and certainly got that. They came at us in the first five or 10 minutes and tried to press us.
''We spoke of trying to soak it up and it was always going to be difficult in the first 15 to 20 minutes. We soaked it up well and after that we played some really good football.
''Some of the football we played was the best for a long time. We're very pleased with that.''
With Montenegro losing to Wales, it became a superb night for Fabio Capello and England, and three points against the Welsh at Wembley next Tuesday would put the home side in a commanding position at the top of Group G, with a place in the finals in sight.
England would then lead by six points ahead of their trip to Montenegro in October, and in those circumstances a draw or better on their travels would see Capello's team qualify.
Terry has always wanted England to build the six-point cushion.
''That'd be ideal. That's what we've played for,'' he said. ''We always realised with the way Montenegro played at Wembley it was always going to be tough going there.''
Montenegro managed a draw at Wembley, and England were left deflated, but it was a different story tonight.
''We've got a good win this evening,'' Terry said. ''The lads are delighted and the manager is very pleased. It's still not over, we've still got a job to do on Tuesday night.''
