A Leyton Orient fan has been banned for allegedly racially abusing England players on Twitter following the Three Lions penalty heartbreak against Italy.
The League Two club said they had issued a three-year banning order to a season-ticket holder related to the abuse of England players.
“The supporter in question’s actions on Twitter were alerted to the club late last night, and action has been taken swiftly to issue a banning order,” the club said in a statement.
“As the club has repeatedly made clear, we take a zero-tolerance approach to any racist abuse or discrimination.
“The club is extremely proud of its diverse history, and continues to work with local authorities and governing bodies to enact change.”
The unnamed fan will be refunded the cost of their 2021/22 season ticket, the club confirmed.
Gareth Southgate described the racist online abuse directed at some of England’s players after the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy as “unforgivable”.
Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were all targeted by abusive posts in the wake of their missed penalties in the shoot-out.
Southgate said: “For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really.
“I know a lot of that has come from abroad, that people who track those things have been able to explain that, but not all of it.
“It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.
“We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together.
“We heal together as a team now, and we’re there for them, and I know that 99 per cent of the public will be as well.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden all condemned the abuse, but former England defender Gary Neville criticised Johnson’s leadership.
He told Sky News: “I’m just reading your breaking news and it says the ‘PM condemns racist abuse of England players’.
“Gareth Southgate and the players a few weeks ago, about five days on the trot, told us they were taking the knee to promote equality and it was against racism.
“The Prime Minister said it was OK for the population of this country to boo those players who were trying to promote equality and defend against racism. It starts at the very top.”
https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/19436942.leyton-orient-fan-banned-england-star-twitter-abuse/
