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England manager Gareth Southgate consoles Bukayo Saka after the penalty shoot out. PA

Boris Johnson condemns 'appalling' racist abuse of England players following Italy defeat

The Metropolitan Police said it would be investigating ‘offensive and racist’ social media comments.

LAST UPDATE | 12 Jul 2021

UK PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has condemned the “appalling” racist abuse of England players on social media after their Euro 2020 final defeat.

Johnson said the team deserve to be hailed as “heroes” following the loss to Italy and not subjected to hatred online, adding that those who sent abuse should be “ashamed of themselves”.

In a statement, the English Football Association said it is “appalled” after a number of its players were subjected to racist abuse on social media following the defeat. 

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missed from the spot last night as England went down on penalties.

The trio’s social media pages were quickly flooded with racist comments, leading the FA to release a statement condemning the “disgusting behaviour”.

A spokesperson said: “The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.

“We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.

“We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences.

“Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.”

The Metropolitan Police also condemned the “unacceptable” abuse, adding it will be investigating the “offensive and racist” social media posts.

The force said in a statement on Twitter: “We are aware of a number of offensive and racist social media comments being directed towards footballers following the #Euro2020 final.

“This abuse is totally unacceptable, it will not be tolerated and it will be investigated.”

The official Twitter account for the England men’s and women’s national teams offered support to the victimised players.

It said in a statement: “We’re disgusted that some of our squad – who have given everything for the shirt this summer – have been subjected to discriminatory abuse online after tonight’s game.

“We stand with our players.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan called on social media companies to do more to hold to account those responsible for sending online abuse.

He wrote on Twitter: “There is absolutely no place for racism in football or anywhere else.

“Those responsible for the disgusting online abuse we have seen must be held accountable – and social media companies need to act immediately to remove and prevent this hate.”

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:06 PM

    Ahh, wouldn’t it be great if we had a legal system like this in Ireland, over 40 years in prison for murder, that would definitely be a deterrent.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:12 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: Malcom McArthur is still in prison nearly 40 years later as far as I know. Like the above case, it seems high profile killings attract stricter sentences.

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    Mute Damo.f
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:22 PM

    @Winston Smith: McArthur was released in 2012.

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:23 PM

    @Winston Smith: MacArthur was in Shelton Abbey, day care centre of a ‘prison’. Not to be confused with harsher regimes in US.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:24 PM

    @Damo.f: right you are, apologies. He did do 30 years though, which is fairly significant sentence.

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Winston Smith: I believe McArthur is living around the Stepaside or surrounding areas now but he seems to be the only one who’s recieved such a sentence.

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    Mute Oliver Francis
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Winston Smith: he was released in 2012 !

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    Mute Dave Barnaville
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:29 PM

    @Trevor Hayden:

    17,284 reported murder and non-negligent manslaughter cases in the U.S in 2017. Hardly a deterrent.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:36 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: there’s been a few over the years actually. Not in a while and mainly for capital offences, but interesting reading.

    https://courtsnewsireland.ie/7-irelands-longest-serving-prisoners-3/2016/02/03/

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    Mute Brianto
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:59 PM
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    Mute John
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    Jan 31st 2019, 2:42 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: John Cullen is in since 1985 thats almost 34 years and Barnie Dunne is in just as long, there are a few murderers doing a good sentence.

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    Mute Ed
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:28 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: A great deterrent. Look at how few homicides there are in the United States.

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:50 PM

    @Ed: Comparing the population to Ireland is completely different, then again thankfully we don’t have the same gun controls.

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    Mute Peter Pistolé
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:08 PM

    @John: yes but he was sentenced 34 years ago. When in recent years has anyone got a proper sentence for murder, or manslaughter as we like to reduce it to here in Ireland

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:22 PM

    @Michael Lynch: Shelton Abbey is no “day care Centre” – far from it.

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    Mute Brian O'Byrne
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    Jan 31st 2019, 5:32 PM

    @Damo.f: he had the government by the short and curleys part of the release agreement was that there would be no book

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    Mute James Wallace
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    Jan 31st 2019, 6:50 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: whatever about the merits of longer sentences as regards keeping murderers off the streets, prison or indeed the death sentence for murder don’t work as deterrents

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    Mute Carmel Reynolds
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    Feb 1st 2019, 3:20 AM

    @Winston Smith: mc.arthur was released a couple of years ago

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    Mute Michael Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 1st 2019, 11:31 AM

    @Winston Smith:

    No he’s not, he served 30 years and was released.

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    Mute John Flood
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:30 PM

    Helter skelter! What that group did back then terrorized California. Sheer brutality. She should remain in prison for the rest of her natural…

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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:12 PM

    @John Flood: I’m guessing that the state is thinking that at her age, she will start costing them more and more on medical services.

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    Mute Patrick Nolan
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:42 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett:
    She will be doing that in or out.

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    Mute Celia Murphy
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    Jan 31st 2019, 2:02 PM

    She was 19 years old at the time..19….theres a lot of stupid adults still out there. Give her some small opportunity for some semblance of a life for a few years

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:28 PM

    @Celia Murphy: More than likely institutionalised by now. Mightn’t last long on outside.

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    Mute Rebecca De Stanleigh
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:32 PM

    @Celia Murphy: Celia I have to agree.

    I have read all the books- my Dad collected books on the Mansons. What happened was disgusting and I still get extremely upset for all the victims- especially Tate and her baby as she was close to her due date.

    But some of the girls were children when indoctrinated into Manson’s cult. The right thing to do might be to let them have some sort of life.

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    Mute Paddy J
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:54 PM

    @Celia Murphy: 100% agree, she has served her time.

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    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:53 PM

    Troubled childhood – an excuse for everything

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    Mute Shimmy Shammy
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:34 PM

    Anyone know the status of Malcolm MacArthur?

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jan 31st 2019, 5:59 PM

    @Shimmy Shammy: John Shaw is in jail 43 years and counting
    His accomplice popped his clogs in 2012 while in jail

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    Mute Greg Browne
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:21 PM

    Malcolm mc Arthur was released a number of years ago.

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    Mute Frank Emerson
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:20 PM

    Clearly according to the legal system, if you murder a celebrity, the sentence must be much harsher. Because…..em…….well it just is.

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    Mute Greg Browne
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:17 PM

    Mc Arthur was released a number of years ago.

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jan 31st 2019, 5:05 PM

    It would think it would be another life sentence to be released from prison. She would find it very hard to get a job, no pension, and probably nobody to take her in. If they did she would probably be some kind of servant, another prison, or on the streets homeless.

    Probably best she serves out the rest in a low security open prison. The big thing is who pays the medical bills from now on, though?

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Jan 31st 2019, 7:47 PM

    Murder in Ireland now is manslaughter what a joke

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    Mute Adrian Dervin
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    Feb 1st 2019, 12:12 AM

    Srgnt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band!

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