Black English Soccer Players Subjected To Racist Abuse After Team's Loss In Euro 2020 Finals

British police are investigating racist abuse targeting three Black players whose missed penalties resulted in England’s shootout loss to Italy in Sunday’s UEFA European Football Championship.

What Happened: England and Italy played to a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2020 championship match held at London’s Wembley Stadium, which led to a shootout between the teams that Italy won in a 3-2 score.

According to an Associated Press report, soccer players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were targeted for racist comments across Facebook FB and Twitter TWTR that the Metropolitan Police condemned as “unacceptable.” Gareth Southgate, coach of the English team, demanded that the social media companies show a more proactive accountability in dealing with the individuals who posted the racist comments.

Furthermore, a mural of Rashford on the wall of a cafe in south Manchester was defaced with graffiti after England’s loss.

For the courage you showed.
For the way you played.
For the next generation you’ve inspired.

We’re so proud of you, lads. Keep your heads held high. pic.twitter.com/2ERlVShSCp

— England (@England) July 12, 2021

What Else Happened: Prince William, who serves as president of the English Football Association and who attended the game with his 6-year-old son Prince George and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, stated he was “sickened” by the abuse hurled at the players and demanded that "all those involved should be held accountable."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement that “those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves,” although Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, criticized Johnson for not condemning Wembley spectators for booing England’s team last month when several of its members went down on one knee in a statement against racism before a match against the Romanian team.

“The prime minister failed to call that out and the actions and inactions of leaders have consequences, so I’m afraid the prime minister’s words today ring hollow,” he said.