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Reflecting On English Football’s Shame; How the Public Shows Rashford’s Racist Bullies the Red Card
Racism has no place in football, but heroes do.
This story is not the post I set out to write.
I had a draft on Marcus Rashford MBE- a football leader-and hoped a favorable result on Sunday would make my story more compelling.
It wasn’t to be. England lost the final of the Euro championship, following an agonizing penalty shootout, with Marcus Rashford, my son’s footballing hero, hitting the post. Then, two more misses for England and tears running down my boy’s cheek confirmed his world had ended; 3–2 for Italy.
The sad news didn’t end here, so I reframed my original story in the light of what happened later.
Here goes.
Racist abuse following the defeat
Soon after, racist bullies targeted the three players who missed a penalty, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Jadon Sancho online and racist vandals defaced Rashford’s mural. Their coach Gareth Southgate was quick to condemn the abuse:
“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. The national team stands for everybody so that togetherness has to continue.
Watch him address the issue:
Widespread condemnation
The Football Association (FA) issued a statement on Twitter after the match, tweeting:
We’re disgusted that some of our squad — who have given everything for the shirt this summer — have been subjected to discriminatory abuse online after tonight’s game.
Then, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted their condemnations. However, the words rang hollow against their earlier lack of support for the team’s taking a knee before each Euro match.
