Police: 11 arrests over racial abuse of England players

Posted August 04, 2021 7:00 am

The Associated Press

FILE - In this Thursday, April 29, 2021 file photo, Manchester United's Marcus Rashford warms up before the Europa League semifinal, first leg soccer match between Manchester United and Roma at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to be sidelined for an extended period of rehabilitation. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - British police investigating the online racial abuse of England players following the team's Euro 2020 soccer final loss against Italy say they have made 11 arrests.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were victims of abuse after they missed penalties in the shootout defeat at Wembley on July 11.

The UK Football Policing Unit said Wednesday that of the 207 posts on social media identified as criminal, 123 accounts belong to individuals outside the United Kingdom. It said the details of those individuals and cases are in the process of being passed on to the relevant countries to act on them.

A total of 34 accounts have so far been identified as being in the United Kingdom, and 11 of these account holders have now been arrested.

'œThere are people out there who believe they can hide behind a social media profile and get away with posting such abhorrent comments,'œ Chief Constable Mark Roberts told Britain's Press Association. 'œThey need to think again - we have investigators proactively seeking out abusive comments in connection to the match and, if they meet a criminal threshold, those posting them will be arrested."

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A police officer tells youths to get off a roof near mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford, on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe on Copson Street, in Withington, Manchester, England, Tuesday July 13, 2021. The mural was defaced with graffiti in the wake of England losing the Euro 2020 soccer championship final match to Italy. (AP Photo/Jon Super) The Associated Press

People take the knee during an anti-racism protest near a mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford, on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe on Copson Street, in Withington, Manchester, England, Tuesday July 13, 2021. The mural was defaced with graffiti in the wake of England losing the Euro 2020 soccer championship final match to Italy. (AP Photo/Jon Super) The Associated Press

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