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A32 sports
Diamars 13 Juli 2021

Police investigate racist abuse of three England players

take accountability and ac-
tion to ban abusers from their
platforms” to ensure that
their platforms are “free from
this type of abhorrent abuse.”

Facebook, which owns Ins-
tagram, said Monday it tried
to remove harmful content
as quickly as possible and en-
couraged people to use the
tools it offers to block abuse.

“We quickly removed com-
ments and accounts directing
abuse at England’s footballers
last night and we’ll continue
to take action against those
that break our rules,” it said
in a statement.

Twitter said the “abhorrent
racist abuse” has no place
on its platform, adding it
removed more than 1,000
tweets and permanently sus-
pended a number of accounts
(AP) — British police light in bringing people to- fully protest and make their on authorities for the “tough- for violating its rules.
opened investigations gether, in people being able feelings known about in- est punishments possible” for
Monday into the racist to relate to the national team, justices” and that he wanted anyone found to have been “We will continue to take ac-
abuse of three Black play- and the national team stands them to cheer the team and responsible for the abuse. tion,” Twitter said, “when
ers who failed to score for everybody and so that to- “not boo.” we identify any tweets or ac-
penalties in England’s getherness has to continue,” Keir Starmer, leader of the “We will continue to do ev- counts that violate our poli-
shootout loss to Italy in Southgate said Monday. main opposition Labour erything we can to stamp dis- cies.”
the European Champion- Party, accused Johnson of a crimination out of the game,
ship final. The abuse was widely con- failure of leadership for not but we implore government The British government is
demned, with Prince Wil- calling out the booing of the to act quickly and bring in planning new laws to en-
The Metropolitan Police liam, the president of the England team. the appropriate legislation so shrine a new legal duty of
condemned the “unaccept- English Football Association, this abuse has real life conse- care on online companies
able” abuse of Marcus Rash- saying he was “sickened” by “The prime minister failed to quences,” it said. to protect users from harm,
ford, Jadon Sancho and Bu- the racism aimed at the Eng- call that out and the actions including people receiving
kayo Saka, and said they will land players. and inactions of leaders have Social media companies, it abusive comments, threats
be investigating the “offen- consequences, so I’m afraid said, need to “step up and and harassment.
sive and racist” social media “It is totally unacceptable the prime minister’s words
posts published soon after that players have to endure today ring hollow,” he said.
Italy won Sunday’s shoot- this abhorrent behaviour,”
out 3-2 following a 1-1 draw. he wrote on Twitter. “It Gary Neville, a former Man-
A mural of Rashford on the must stop now and all those chester United player and
wall of a cafe in south Man- involved should be held ac- now a TV commentator, said
chester was also defaced with countable.” he wasn’t surprised that the
graffiti in the wake of the three players who failed to
match. British Prime Minister Bo- convert their penalties were
ris Johnson on Monday told targeted for racist abuse and
The racist abuse, which was those who directed racist also called out Johnson.
condemned as “unforgiv- abuse at some of the players
able” by England coach Ga- that he hoped “you will crawl “The prime minister said
reth Southgate, has led to back under the rock from it was OK for the popula-
calls for social media com- which you emerged.” tion of this country to boo
panies, such as Facebook and those players who are trying
Twitter, to do more in hunt- But he has faced criticism for to promote equality and de-
ing down the perpetrators of emboldening those booing fend against racism,” he said
the abuse. the England team for taking on Sky News. “It starts at
a knee before their matches the very top and so for me I
All three players targeted to protest against racial injus- wasn’t surprised in the slight-
are part of a young England tice. est that I woke up this morn-
squad that has been widely ing to those headlines.”
praised for its diversity and Last month, Johnson’s
social conscience. Rashford, spokesman said the prime In recent years, soccer au-
for one, has been at the fore- minister is “more focused on thorities in England have
front of a campaign against action rather than gestures.” joined with the players in
child poverty, which con- That comment led to wide- trying to tackle racism both
vinced the British govern- spread criticism that Johnson within the sport — at every
ment to restore free lunches was effectively encouraging level — and in society as a
for thousands of poor chil- those booing to carry on. whole.
dren amid the coronavirus Three days later, his spokes-
pandemic. man changed tack, saying the The English FA said it will
prime minister “respects the give the players affected what
“We have been a beacon of right of all people to peace- support it can and will press