England secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Serbia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, a match that was unfortunately overshadowed by several unsettling incidents involving the crowd. An ITV pundit described the scenes as "unnerving," highlighting the tension that permeated parts of the game.

Early in the match, the proceedings were briefly halted due to a laser pen being targeted at several Three Lions stars. Aston Villa defenderEzri Konsa recoiled in horror after being caught in the eye, and Chelsea's Reece James was also aimed at while attempting a free-kick.

Photo Credit: The Sun

Following these incidents, the refereeClement Turpin paused the match, leading to a stadium-wide announcement in Serbian warning fans to cease shining laser pens onto the pitch. Additionally, supporters were instructed to put away an anti-Kosovo flag displayed in the stands, while a persistent joker attempted to disrupt England's play by blowing a whistle mimicking the referee.

Further into the second half, with England comfortably leading 3-0, riot police were forced to intervene in a volatile situation among Serbia supporters. Footage and reports indicated that fighting broke out between sections of home fans. These clashes were reportedly sparked by critical chants aimed at Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic. Police swiftly rushed into the stand to de-escalate the situation as the match continued on the field.

Photo Credit: Al Jazeera

The severity of the incident was underscored by the sight of children being lifted to safety away from the melee. ITV's pitch-side reporter Gabriel Clarke later clarified the situation, confirming the events had been "unnerving for a few minutes." Fortunately, the rapid response of the riot police brought the situation under control quickly, preventing it from escalating further and allowing the game to conclude.

Despite the disruptions, England's performance on the pitch was dominant. Harry Kane opened the scoring, followed by goals from Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, and Marcus Rashford, completing the 5-0 rout. This victory extended England's remarkable clean sheet record, having now failed to concede a goal in their last 10-and-a-half hours of competitive football. Under manager Thomas Tuchel, England is now in a prime position to qualify for next summer's World Cup, with the squad's potential still high even without key players like Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham.