Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were subjected to racial abuse on social media after they missed their penalties in the Euro 2020 final shootout defeat to Italy.
Follow Us
England centre-back Tyrone Mings has slammed Home Secretary Priti Patel after three of his national teammates were subjected to racial abuse following their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were all subjected to racial abuse on social media after they missed their penalties in the shootout at Wembley on Sunday. Later, Home Secretary Patel condemned the abuse directed at the English players. “I am disgusted that England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media. It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable,” Patel wrote on Twitter.
Reacting to it, Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings pointed out that Priti Patel has criticised the players in the past for their decision to take a knee before matches. Mings wrote, “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”
You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens. https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2
— Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) July 12, 2021
The centre-back further went on to write about his experience of being part of the group and how disappointed he was to see the abuses at the end of it all. Tyrone Mings wrote, “I’m still struggling to find the words to express my emotions from the past month.
“I’m so proud of everyone who has contributed to the joy and togetherness this team has bought to millions. We have celebrated, smiled, cried and cheered together & for that, I’m so so proud. But waking up today and seeing my brothers being racially abused for being brave enough to put themselves in a position to help this country, is something that sickens, but doesn’t surprise me. We have literally made history. We’ve gone where no one else has gone. Take that in.”
England captain Harry Kane also condemned the racist abuse directed at the players following their loss in the penalty shootout. He said that those people who sent the abuse to England players after the match are not true fans.
Kane wrote on Twitter, “Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up and take a pen when the stakes were high. They deserve support and backing not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night. If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you.”
Manager Gareth Southgate has also spoken out against the racist online abuse directed at Saka, Rashford, and Sancho. When asked about the abuse, he said, “For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really. I know some of that has come from abroad, people who track these things are able to explain that, but not all of it.”
“It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue. We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together.”
The young English team lived up to the pre-season expectations at Euro 2020 as they reached a first major final in 55 years.
