Four arrested for racial abuse of footballers online

Four people have now been arrested for racial abuse of England players following their defeat in Euro 2020 final.

Players Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho were targeted with racial abuse after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, National Police Chiefs’ Council football policing lead, described the abuse as “utterly vile”.

“If we identify that you are behind this crime, we will track you down and you will face the serious consequences of your shameful actions,” he said.

Police said “a torrent of racist comments aimed at some of the team’s black players” occurred on social media platforms on Sunday, July 11, following the defeat against Italy.

The UK Football Policing Unit said its team was still working through “a significant number of reports of racist abuse”.

Up until today, July 15, local police forces have made four arrests, a statement said.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts said the racial abuse “has quite rightly shocked and appalled people across the country”.

“Our England team have been true role models during the tournament, conducting themselves with professionalism and dignity. I’m disgusted there are individuals out there who think it’s acceptable to direct such abhorrent abuse at them, or at anybody else.”

He has highlighted that the investigation into the abuse will continue and they will be looking for those responsible by working closely with social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

England manager Gareth Southgate described the racist abuse Sancho, Saka and Rashford endured as “unforgivable”, the BBC reports.

Yesterday, July 14, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that those found guilty of racist abuse will be banned from attending matches, saying he would ensure the “football banning order regime is changed” to fight racism online.

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