England’s football authorities have criticized “disgusting’’ racial abuse of three young players who missed penalties in the Euro 2020 men’s football final defeat to Italy.
Marcus Rashford, Jordan Sancho and Bukayo Sako were targeted by trolls on social media after the game at Wembley on Sunday.
In a statement released by the Football Association, FA called on social media companies to “take accountability’’ and ban abusers.
“We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.
“We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences.
“Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse,” said FA in a statement.
Rashford, Sancho, 21, and Saka, 19, failed to convert their penalties after England and Italy were deadlocked at 1-1 following extra-time.
England were in their first major men’s football tournament final since Bobby Moore’s 1966 team won the World Cup final at Wembley.