English football players Marcus Rashford, Jordan Sancho and Bukayo Saka have all been subject to online racist abuse after England lost in the penalty shoot-out against Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Marcus Rashford’s mural in Withington, Manchester – painted in honour of his work to tackle child food poverty – was defaced with racist abuse and abhorrent language. The vandalism has since been covered up with supportive messages from the community and Greater Manchester Police are set to investigate the matter.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted on Monday morning:
“The 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.”
Boris Johnson has since promised to impose a ten-year stadium ban for individuals who are found to be abusing footballers online.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has also made a statement saying she is:
“… 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.”
The Home Secretary, coming from a Ugandan-Indian family herself, has received a torrent of racial abuse online throughout her time in Government. However, Patel has taken some of the strongest actions against racism than any other home secretary, specifically cracking down on ultra-nationalist far right groups who are responsible for a large proportion of this abuse.