The English winger, who missed the crucial penalty in the Euro 2020 final, has vowed not to allow negativity to break him after the final disappointment.
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Bukayo Saka, who was racially abused on social media following the Euro 2020 final against Italy, anticipated that he would be targeted online following his missed penalty. However, the young Arsenal winger has insisted that the negativity will not “break” him. After the regulation time finished 1-1 in the final, three English players missed their penalties. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho both missed their kicks, giving Jorginho the opportunity to win the trophy for Italy, but Jordan Pickford saved his kick, keeping the Three Lions in the game. But, Bukayo Saka, who had to score from his kick to take the match into sudden death, saw his effort parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma to leave the Wembley crowd stunned.
In a heartfelt message posted on his Twitter account, Bukayo Saka said, “I have stayed away from social media for a few days to spend time with my family and reflect on the last few weeks. This message won’t do it justice how grateful I am for all the love that I have received, and I feel that I need to thank everyone who has supported me. It was an honour to be part of an England squad that leads by example, they are brothers for life and I’m grateful for everything that I have learnt from every one of the players and staff who worked so hard.”
— Bukayo Saka (@BukayoSaka87) July 15, 2021
“To help that team reach our first final in 55 years, seeing my family in the crowd, knowing what they’ve given up to help me get there, that meant everything to me. There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was with the result and my penalty. I really believed we would win this for you. I’m sorry that we couldn’t bring it home for you this year, but I promise you that we will give everything we’ve got to make sure this generation knows how it feels to win.
“My reaction post-match said it all, I was hurting so much and I felt like I’d let you all and my England family down, but I can promise you this. I will not let that moment or the negativity that I’ve received this week break me. For those who have campaigned on my behalf and sent me heartfelt letters, wished me and my family well – I’m so thankful. This is what football should be about. Passion, people of all races, genders, religions and backgrounds coming together with one shared joy of the rollercoaster of football.”
A regular for Arsenal in the Premier League, Bukayo Saka also urged social media platforms to increase their efforts to combat racial abuse. “To the social media platforms Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, I don’t want any child or adult to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that me Marcus and Jadon have received this week. I knew instantly the kind of hate that I was about to receive and that is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages.
“There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of society and to the majority of people coming together to call out the people sending these messages, by taking action and reporting these comments to the police and by driving out the hate by being kind to one another, we will win. Love always wins.”
