Thu 15 July 2021:
English football star Jadon Sancho has spoken out after receiving online abuse for his penalty shoot-out miss in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final, with the England winger insisting that “hate will never win”.
“As a society, we need to do better, and hold these people accountable. Hate will never win,” Sancho said on Instagram after he and two other Black players on the English national team were bombarded with racist comments on social media after the final on July 11 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund winger said that “sadly, it’s nothing new.”
Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka were racially abused after England lost the final to Italy in a penalty shootout.
The trio were subjected to offensive and racist online abuse after missing penalties.
“To all the young people who have received similar abuse, hold your heads up high and keep chasing the dream.
“I am proud of this England team,” Sancho said, thanking people for their messages of support.
— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) July 14, 2021
“I was ready and confident to take it,” Sancho said. “These are the moments you dream of as a kid, it is why I play football. These are the pressured situations you want to be under as a footballer. I’ve scored penalties before at club level, I’ve practised them countless times for both club and country. I picked my corner, but it just wasn’t meant to be this time.”
Sancho added that the miss was “the worst feeling I’ve felt in my career,” but ended on an upbeat note. “I am proud of this England team and how we have united the whole nation in what has been a difficult 18 months for so many people,” he added.
“I want to say a massive thank you for all the positive messages and love and support that far outweighed the negative. It’s been an honour as always representing England and wearing the Three Lions shirt, and I have no doubt we’ll be back even stronger! Stay safe and see you soon.”
England manager Gareth Southgate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the English football body (FA) condemned the abuse.
Sancho is set to join Manchester United soon as the Red Devils said on July 1 that they have agreed to a “deal in principle” with Dortmund for his transfer.
He has been a Dortmund player since 2017, scoring 50 goals and producing 64 assists in 137 appearances for the German club.
Sancho, who has a contract with Dortmund until 2023, won the German Cup last season.
