A few Black players of the team were victims of racial abuse after England failed to win the Euro Cup.
After England's defeat in the Euro Cup 2020 on Sunday, July 11, a few Black players from the team have been victims of "racist abuse," according to News.com.au. Prince William, who is also the president of the country's Football Association, condemned the incident. “I am sickened by the racist abuse aimed at England players after last night’s match,” the Prince said in a post on Twitter. “It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behavior. It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable.”
I am sickened by the racist abuse aimed at England players after last night’s match.
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) July 12, 2021
It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour.
It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable. W
England lost to Italy following a 1-1 tie in regulation, after Italy scored penalty kicks. Hours after the match, members Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, of the England team, who all took penalty kicks that did not translate to goals, were being targeted with racist comments on social media.
Also, a mural of Rashford, who is an active part of a campaign to feed underprivileged kids, was vandalized, states TODAY.
Rashford then took to Twitter to issue a lengthy statement on the topic, per E! Online. "I've grown into a sport where I expect to read things written about myself," he said. "Whether it be the color of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch." He continued, "I will never apologize for who I am and where I came from."
He concluded his statement by sharing he is a "black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that."
Meanwhile English fans go wild, vandalized everything, beaten Italians after England loosing Euro Cup 2020 Final Match. The worst football fans of the world, definitely the English.#EURO2020 #englandfans #ItaliaCampionedEuropa pic.twitter.com/WHkk6hXCWk
— Subhamay Mandal (@JournoSubhamay) July 12, 2021
While this, in itself, is problematic, people couldn't help but wonder where Prince William's sense of righteousness was when his sister-in-law, Meghan Markle, was a victim of racist comments from within the Royal family.
One user wrote: "That same statement should have been released years ago while the tabloids incessantly attacked the mother of your nephew and niece. And when they posted memes with your nephew as a monkey. A statement not only from you, but from the Royal Family as well. Diana would not have."
A second user shared: "I agree, but quite honestly you and your entire family should also reflect on how you encouraged and profited financially from slavery for centuries. And finally, start to redistribute your extraordinary wealth within formerly enslaved communities. Then I believe your words."
Just wait until you hear about how your family treated your brothers wife, you’ll be raging
— Simon Winterburn (@WinterburnSimon) July 12, 2021
"Wow! That was well said. It’s sad Meghan and Harry had to deal with that. I’ve been wondering who it is that was worried about their beautiful boy Archie’s skin tone possibly being dark. I have a pretty good idea. Also, your dad’s silence is awful, a third added.
In March, during the explosive tell-all interview with Oprah, Markle said that when they were expecting their son, there were "concerns" in the royal family about the child's skin color. "In those months when I was pregnant, all around the same time...we have in tandem the conversation of [whether] he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. And also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born."
Oprah reacts to Meghan Markle revealing somebody in the Royal Family was concerned about how dark Archie's skin color might be.#OprahMeghanHarry
— Alexander Umeakubuike ✊🏿 (@AUmeakubuike) March 8, 2021
pic.twitter.com/V4C2FUxAVY
However, the Duchess didn't reveal who asked about the color of the baby's skin since it would be "damaging to them."
Per Cosmopolitan, The royals have not issued a public apology to Meghan or take accountability. However, a brief statement was issued, saying in part, "The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately." BBC states that the only thing Prince William has said about the issue when asked by reporters is that the Royal Family "is very much not racist."
References:
https://www.today.com/news/prince-william-racist-attacks-against-england-s-soccer-team-t225251
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-56359393
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by John Sibley - Pool
