• Racist insults after missed penalties, Johnson: team of heroes, shame

  • Euro 2020. Rashford's mural in Manchester: first vandalized then covered with hearts

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July 15, 2021 Four people were arrested for racist insults on social media to the three English national team players who missed their penalties in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho.

The National Police Chiefs' Council reports this on its website and social profiles.



🚨UPDATE:



Police have arrested four people and submitted dozens of data applications to social media companies after racist abuse targeting England players on social media following the Euro 2020 final.

https://t.co/GMH8J7cyhK

- National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) (@PoliceChiefs) July 15, 2021



Chief Commissioner Mark Roberts in a statement sent a warning to the perpetrators not yet identified: "If we reconstruct that you are behind this crime, we will track you down and face serious consequences. for your shameful actions ".



The hate crime investigation follows a night of crime and widespread unrest after Sunday's game. As of 13 July, 897 football-related incidents and 264 arrests had been recorded across the country in the 24 hours following the final. This brings the total number of football-related incidents during the tournament to 2,344, with 630 arrests. These numbers are a significant increase compared to the criminal incidents seen during previous tournaments, including the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2016.



Racist insults to footballers

The insults on social media were also

 severely condemned by Prime Minister Boris Johnson

who had promised that "whoever is guilty of racist abuse against footballers will no longer be able to enter stadiums", adding that "concrete steps" will be taken to prevent the repetition of such actions.



After the defeat of the English national team by Mancini's Azzurri, unknown people had vandalized

the mural dedicated to Marcus Rashford

, forward of Manchester United and the English national team,

with offensive writings

. Subsequently, the work of street artist Aske was covered with hearts and messages of affection and solidarity for the young footballer.





Sancho's letter

"I took a few days to reflect on last Sunday's final and I still feel a mixture of emotions. I would like to ask forgiveness from my teammates, the coaching staff and, above all, the fans I disappointed. This is, for sure, the worst feeling that I have felt in my career, and it is difficult to explain it in words ". Thus begins a long open letter posted on social media by Jadon Sancho, one of the three players who missed penalties in the Wembley European final and who then suffered bursts of insults. 



"My first thought before any game - continues Sancho - is 'can I help the team today?' 'Will I score or create chances today?' And that is exactly what I wanted to do with my penalty: help my team. I was ready, and confident to pull it. These are the moments one dreams of as a child, and plays football for, pressure situations in you want to be as a player. I've scored penalties at club level, I've practiced them countless times with the club and the national team, and so I chose my corner, but this time I was destined to miss. "



Then Sancho moves on to the topic that matters most to him: "I will not pretend not to have perceived the racist insults that my brothers Marcus, Bukayo (Rashford and Saka ed) and I have suffered after the game, but unfortunately there is no nothing new. As a society we have to improve and empower these people. But hate will never win. To all young people who have been abused of this kind, I tell them to keep walking around with their heads held high and that they continue to pursue theirs. dreams ". "I am proud - he concludes - of this England national team and of how we have united the whole country after 18 months that have been difficult for so many people".