Amid all the good cheer and celebratory wishes following England's thrilling penalty shootout victory over Switzerland, Jadon Sancho's message to Bukayo Saka stood out. "I'm so proud of this guy! You did it for me and Marcus, brother!" he wrote on Instagram, expressing a camaraderie that goes beyond just the game.
Now, I'm not claiming to read Sancho's mind, but it's pretty clear his message carried more weight. It wasn't just about Saka's performance or that Sancho, Saka, and Marcus Rashford had their efforts saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Euro 2020 final, leading to Italy's triumph at Wembley Stadium. There was a deeper, more emotional context to Sancho's words.
After that heart-wrenching defeat, things took a dark turn. What followed was a barrage of vile and senseless abuse directed at those three players on British social media. The most disgusting part? The racist undertones in some of the messages, contrasting the white scorers, Harry Kane and Harry Maguire, with Rashford, Sancho, and Saka, who are black. None of those posts deserve any more airtime, but they were a stark reminder of the ugliness that can sometimes overshadow the beauty of sports.
Fast forward to Saturday, Saka was back, proving his mettle by scoring the equalizer in England's quarterfinal and hitting the mark again in the shootout. Rashford and Sancho, unfortunately, didn’t make it to Euro 2024, having struggled with their club forms. But Saka's resilience shone through.
"Where are the racists now????" wrote former England defender Rio Ferdinand, posting a photo of England's five successful kickers from the semifinal against the Netherlands in Dortmund. That powerful image featured Cole Palmer, with his Caribbean heritage, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer had no chance against any of their strikes, and England, despite some disjointed performances, advanced.
This success was a bittersweet reminder of the mindlessness of the abuse last time. For Euro 2024, even if England had faltered on penalties, measures were in place to prevent a repeat of such hatred.
In March, representatives from the United Kingdom's police force met with the England squad at their main training facility. The police made active efforts to shorten the waiting time for receiving information about offenders from social media companies. "We've explained to the players that we are there to support them," Chief Constable Mark Roberts told the BBC. "We've given them advice on how they can protect themselves with setting up their own accounts to try to prevent it happening and to reassure them that we are there."
Roberts emphasized, "It's really depressing when you see some of the abuse meted out to our black players in particular, so we've done a lot of work with social media companies. Where someone is in this country, if they think they can do that and remain anonymous, they can't. We will find them."
The offensive behavior towards Rashford, Sancho, and Saka happened when they were just 23, 21, and 19, respectively. The fortitude shown by Saka in Dusseldorf was mightily impressive.
"You can fail once, but you have a choice if you put yourself in that position or not again," Saka said during a press conference. "I am a guy who is going to put myself in that position."
Saka's determination and courage are not just commendable but inspirational. His ability to rise above the hate and perform under immense pressure is a testament to his character. This story of resilience is a beacon of hope and a reminder that while the internet can be a dark place, filled with trolls and haters, there are also stories of triumph, solidarity, and unwavering spirit.
The support from fans, teammates, and authorities has played a crucial role in creating a safer environment for players. This collective effort ensures that the focus remains on the sport and the talent of these young athletes, rather than the color of their skin.
So, as we celebrate England's progress in the tournament, let's also celebrate the individual stories of courage and resilience. Let's acknowledge the steps taken to combat online abuse and support those who put themselves on the line for their team and country. And most importantly, let's continue to stand against racism in all its forms, ensuring that every player, regardless of their background, can play the game they love without fear of abuse.
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