Talented football players, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka came under severe racial abuse on social media following the loss of England to Italy in the just concluded Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium in England.
The English fans appear angry with the trio of Rashford, Sancho and Saka for failing to convert their penalty kicks at the match.
Racist attacks on spectators were also reported at the Wembley Stadium and on the streets of London following the 3-2 loss of England to Italy.
There are clips online showing English football fans attacking people believed to be supporters of Italy.
One of such clips showed hordes of men targeting some spectators leaving the stadium, slapping, kicking and shouting obscenities at them. In the clip, one young man was knocked to the ground and was kicked and punched by multiple people, before being rescued by guards and shepherded back into the stadium.
Boris Johnson condemned the violence describing it as “appalling” while the metropolitan police said it had opened an investigation into the incidents.
In a tweet this (Monday) morning, the prime minister said: “This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media. Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
The police in a tweet said: “We are aware of a number of offensive and racist social media comments being directed towards footballers following the #Euro2020 final. This abuse is totally unacceptable, it will not be tolerated and it will be investigated.”
Saka’s club, Arsenal in their official reaction said: “The social media platforms and authorities must act to ensure this disgusting abuse to which our players are subjected on a daily basis stops now. We have processes in place internally at Arsenal to ensure our players are supported both emotionally and practically on this issue but sadly there is only so much we can do.
“Our message to Bukayo is: hold your head high, we are so very proud of you and we cannot wait to welcome you back home to Arsenal soon.”
The FA also condemned the attack. In a statement it said: “The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.
“We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.”
The FA statement said it would “continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.
“Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.”
