Harry Kane criticises fans who racially abused Rashford, Sancho & Saka

England captain Harry Kane has hit out at those behind the racist abuse of fellow football team-mates Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka: “You’re not an England fan and we don’t want you.”

All three players missed penalties in the 3-2 shootout loss to Italy in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final and all were heavily targeted both on social media during the shootout and soon after.

“They deserve support and backing, not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night,” Kane posted.

The 27 year-old spurs stiker went on to say “Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up and take a pen when the stakes were high,” the Tottenham striker added on Twitter.

“If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you.”
Defender Tyrone Mings also took to Twitter to talk of his pride in the team reaching the final but added

: “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.”

He went on to criticise Home Secretary Priti Patel who last month described players taking the knee against racism as “gesture politics”.

Earlier, manager Gareth Southgate said the racist abuse issued after the defeat was “unforgivable”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Football Association also condemned it.

For the courage you showed.
For the way you played.
For the next generation you’ve inspired.

We’re so proud of you, lads. Keep your heads held high.

For the courage you showed.
For the way you played.
For the next generation you’ve inspired.

We’re so proud of you, lads. Keep your heads held high. pic.twitter.com/2ERlVShSCp

— England (@England) July 12, 2021

The Metropolitan Police

is investigating the abuse and said “it will not be tolerated”, while the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) has also launched an investigation.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Policing Lead, said police were working with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter “and enquiries are already being progressed”.

“It’s just not what we stand for,” said Southgate.

“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.

“It’s my decision who takes the penalties, it’s not a case of players not volunteering or more experienced players backing out.”

England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham tweeted a picture of the three players wearing crowns and wrote: “We win together and we lose together. So proud to have team-mates with such top character. As for the racism, hurtful but not surprising. Will never get bored of saying that more needs to be done. Educate and control the platforms.”

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

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford missed penalties in England’s shootout defeat

European football’s governing body Uefa condemned the “disgusting racist abuse”, adding: “We stand by the players and the FA’s call for the strongest possible punishments.”

On Monday, League Two side Leyton Orient said they had banned a fan for life in connection with the abuse.

“The supporter in question’s actions on Twitter were alerted to the club late last night, and action has been taken swiftly to issue a banning order,” the club said.

Meanwhile, Premier League side Wolves said they had passed details to police after being alerted to racist abuse from one of their supporters.

And a parish councillor in Shropshire has resigned after racist posts appeared on his personal Facebook page in the wake of England’s defeat.

Paul Bradbury, a member of Pontesbury Parish Council, said his account had been hacked.

West Mercia Police said it had arrested a man in his 60s from Minsterley, Shropshire, on suspicion of inciting racial hatred and he remained in police custody.

England had reached their first final in a major tournament since winning the World Cup in 1966 and, despite taking the lead against Italy, drew 1-1 after extra time before a penalty shootout.

“This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” said the prime minister.

He later started a Downing Street briefing by praising the players, adding: “They brought joy to this country and to those who have been directing racist abuse I say ‘shame on you and I hope you will crawl back under the rock from which you emerged’.”

England’s players have taken a knee before games at the Euros to highlight the fight against racial inequality.

On the day the tournament started on 11 June, the prime minister did not condemn fans who jeered when England players took the knee during two warm-up games.

Instead, Johnson said he wanted to see fans “getting behind the team to cheer them on” – and was then accused of not having “the guts to call it out” by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

“It’s unbelievable that we are still talking about it,” FA chief executive Mark Bullingham told BBC Sport. “We’ve been so clear, these social media companies need to act. They need to stamp it out and they can do that. “We are reiterating a call for the government to bring in the Online Harms Bill as soon as they can. We don’t think it’s acceptable in any walk of life for this racist abuse to happen and we want it to stop.”

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