The ignoble part of English fans is once again on display as racist remarks have trailed the Three Lions’ loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.
While the English fans were hoping that the trophy would come home, it went to Rome and three players – Bukayo Saka, Jardon Sancho and Marcus Rashford – were fingered as the main culprits in the loss, via personal kicks.
In a swift reaction, the UK prime minister and the Football Association have condemned racist abuse aimed at Sancho, Rashford, and Saka after the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy.
All three players missed penalties in the 3-2 shootout loss and were targeted on social media after the game.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the abuse “appalling”.
“This England team deserves to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” the Prime Minister was quoted on the BBC.
Bukayo Saka
Italy goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma has revealed why he did not celebrate after saving Bukayo Saka’s penalty in their Euro 2020 final shootout win against England on Sunday night.
Donnarumma quietly walked off after saving Saka’s crucial penalty as his teammates went crazy at Wembley Stadium.
Italy and England had missed two spot-kicks, it fell on Saka to score the final, decisive penalty, but his effort was pawed away by Donnarumma to ensure the European Championships would be going to Rome, not home.
But rather than celebrating wildly when he sealed the win for Italy, Donnarumma quietly and calmly began walking off before being mobbed by his teammates.
Many fans believe his reaction was a sign of his ice-cold, casual behaviour, but now the 22-year-old shot-stopper has said that he simply didn’t realise the shootout was over.
Donnarumma assumed Italy still had to score one more penalty in order to lift European Championship, which was what happened in their semi-final shootout win against Spain when Chelsea’s Jorginho scored the match-winning spot-kick.
When asked about his non-celebration, Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italia: “I didn’t celebrate because I didn’t realise we had won!”