‘This has all gone on for far too long’

Tuesday 20th July 2021 12:18 EDT
 

Murals vandalised, racist slurs hurled at players of colour, social media trolling and insensitive remarks against footballers during Euro 2020, Britain saw a demoralising finale to the most prestigious game held in the country in recent times. Well-wishers came out in support of the lions - Marcus Rashford, Jordan Sancho and Bukayo Saka. Asian Voice carried the sentiment of British Asians in the community who expressed solidarity with team England and condemned racial abuse. The matter remains “under investigation as enquiries continue” under MetPolice’s able hands. 

Speaking exclusively to the newsweekly, Jonathan Metliss, Chairman of Action Against Discrimination (AAD) said, “Action Against Discrimination (AAD) abhors the latest online racist abuse towards black players – Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho – following England’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final, behaviour which is despicable in every respect. Likewise, the anti-Semitic abuse directed at actor and writer Jolyon Rubinstein at Wembley Stadium, as he took off his coat to reveal a shirt with his name on the back, is no less reprehensible. AAD has consistently campaigned for serious action to be taken by the Government, the police, the clubs, the Football Association (FA) and the social media outlets to prevent and eradicate this behaviour. The fact that it continues unabated is an indication of their failure.

“The rioting and violence were predictable and nothing has changed since Charleroi in the European Championships in 2000 when English fans likewise ran amok. The finger has to be pointed at the FA who have singularly failed to adopt measures to warn against and prevent this behaviour at England games. And we must not forget the laser beam aimed at Kasper Schmeichel at the England v Denmark game as Harry Kane was about to take his penalty.

The Government of the day is also culpable in not taking appropriate action. Many of the thugs who perpetrated these acts are also the authors of the online abuse. The FA has failed to condemn the recent waving of Palestinian flags by players which was an incitement to racial hatred. These problems will not go away until there is unified preventative action by all those mentioned above. This has all gone on for far too long.”


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