England’s Harry Kane fires back at racist fans after Euro 2020 final – ‘We don’t want you’

England captain Harry Kane his issued a stinging response to the racist abuse his team-mates received following the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 final defeat. England lost 3-2 to Italy in a penalty shootout after the scores were deadlocked at 1-1 after extra time.

The resulting shootout saw newly-introduced substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho both miss their spot-kicks, while 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, who was introduced from the bench earlier in the game, saw his crucial penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma to secure victory for the Azzurri.

In the aftermath of England’s defeat, the three players were targeted by racist abuse on social media.

And captain Kane took to social media himself to respond directly to the abuse he saw aimed at his team-mates.

“They deserve support and backing, not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night,” he said.

“Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up and take a pen when the stakes were high.”

Kane then stated that the team wants nothing to do with the sort of fans who aimed their abuse at the young players who missed from the spot.

“If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an England fan and we don’t want you,” he said.

Kane’s comments against the racism that has marred the aftermath of England’s defeat joined those of his fellow Three Lions team-mate Tyrone Mings, who shared his thoughts on the abuse he’d witnessed online after the final.

“I’m still struggling to find the words to express my emotions from the past month,” he wrote on Twitter. 

“I’m so proud of everyone who has contributed to the joy and togetherness this team has bought to millions. 

“We have celebrated, smiled, cried and cheered together & for that, I’m so so proud.

“But waking up today and seeing my brothers being racially abused for being brave enough to put themselves in a position to help this country, is something that sickens, but doesn’t surprise me.

“We have literally made history. We’ve gone where no one else has gone. Take that in.”

Mings then took issue with the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, as he quote-tweeted her message of disgust at the racist abuse with a stinging rebuke of the cabinet member for her opposition to the team’s anti-racism message at the start of the tournament.

“You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens,” he tweeted.

The Football Association issued a statement condemning the abuse, saying, “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.”