Euro 2020: England player Bukayo Saka pens strong note after racial abuse – Will not let negativity break me
Englishman Bukayo Saka wrote a powerful note on social media on Thursday, days after he and several of his teammates were racially abused after they missed crucial penalties in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Saka said he was well aware of the hate he would receive after England’s defeat in the highly anticipated final and hit out at social media platforms for not doing enough to stop the spread of hateful messages.
While penning an apology to fans of the sport for missing the decisive penalty, Saka, who was reduced to tears after the penalty shoot-out at Wembley, said he will not let the hateful messages break him.
Substitutes Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Saka all missed spot kicks in the 3-2 shootout loss to Italy. Saka, 19, got the support of his teammates who rushed to console him as he was standing distraught near the goalpost in front of thousands of English fans who were waiting for a 55-year-long title drought to be ended.
“My reaction post match said it all, I was hurting so much and I felt like I’d let you all and my England family down, but I can promise you this.. I will not let that moment or the negativity that I’ve received this week break me,” Saka wrote in a note posted on social media.
“For those who have campaigned on my behalf and sent me heartfelt letters, wished me and my family well – I’m so thankful. This is what football should be about. Passion, people of all races, genders, religions and backgrounds coming together with one shared joy of the rollercoaster of football.
‘I knew instantly the kind of hate I was about to receive’
“To the social media platforms Instagram, Twitter, Facebook I don’t want any child or adult to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that me Marcus and Jadon have received this week. I knew instantly the kind of hate that I was about to receive and that is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages.”
“There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of the society. And to the majority of people coming together to call out the people sending these messages, by taking action and reporting these comments to the police and driving out the hate by being kind to one another, we will win.
“Love always wins,” he added.
Messages of support poured in for the three England stars with captain Harry Kane slamming racist behaviour of the fans on social media.
“Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up & take a pen when the stakes were high. They deserve support & backing not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night. If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you,” Kane wrote.
British police said four people have been arrested over online racist abuse aimed at England’s players while a hate crime investigation led by the UK Football Policing Unit is under way.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to tackle online abuse, but he and other ministers have been accused of hypocrisy for not condemning those who booed the players at the start of the tournament for their “taking the knee” anti-racism protest.
