EURO 2004 QUALIFYING: UEFA is to launch an investigation into the racist abuse and violence that marred England's 2-1 victory over Slovakia in Bratislava on Saturday night.

FA officials lodged a complaint with the governing body after Ashley Cole and Emile Heskey were subjected to racist chants from a large section of the home crowd throughout the match.

UEFA will also examine security arrangements in Slovakia which failed to prevent running battles before and during the match between supporters and riot police.

Violence broke out in the stadium during the first half after missiles were thrown into the English section and some of the visiting fans tried to rip down a thin fence dividing them from Slovak supporters.

On Friday evening, two England fans were shot as security guards in a city centre bar fired warning shots to clear England supporters.

Gareth Jones (30) from Coventry, had a bullet removed from his neck in hospital yesterday, and Phil Holland, from Worcester, was shot in the knee, but discharged himself from hospital.

Two security men were arrested and detained in connection with the incident.

The FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "The racism is very disappointing. Throughout the game Emile Heskey and Ashley Cole, in particular, suffered a torrent of racist abuse whenever they got the ball and they deserve credit for the way they conducted themselves throughout that."

"It wasn't just a few people, it was the whole stadium," Heskey said. "It was very hard, but we just tried to block it out."

Some 6,000 England fans, 4,300 of whom had tickets, made the trip to Bratislava for the game and many seemed intent on trouble. They found locals happy to respond to their attempts at intimidation.

Ten England fans were arrested in Prague after a dispute over a bill in a lap-dancing club.

In Vienna yesterday five English people were arrested after they smashed cars and shop windows.

Some 1,200 known troublemakers were issued with banning orders prior to the match.