Boris’s football ban for the web racists

Johnson has vowed that anyone who sends racist abuse to footballers will be banned from attending matches.

The PM said the Government is changing football banning orders to cover online racism.

It follows a wave of vile abuse aimed at England stars Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka following the national team’s defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.

Mr Johnson made the announcement at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday. Condemning racist abuse directed at England stars, he said: “I repeat that I utterly condemn and abhor the racist outpourings that we saw on Sunday night.

“What we’re doing today is taking practical steps to ensure that the

football banning order regime is changed, so that if you are guilty of racist abuse online of footballers, then you will not be going to the match. No ifs, no buts, no exemptions and no excuses.”

The Premier League said it supBORIS

ported the extended crackdown. Banning orders allow magistrates to stop individuals from attending regulated matches in the UK if they are convicted of relevant offences.

They may also be required to surrender their passport before overseas matches and tournaments. The orders can last between three and 10 years and are mainly handed out for violent and public disorder offences.

The league is working with Rashford, Sancho and Saka to review the accounts that posted abusive messages and provide all findings to the relevant authorities.

During a fiery PMQs, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised Mr Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel’s failure to condemn the booing of England players taking the knee.

He said: “Far from giving racism the red card, the Prime Minister gave it the green light.”

Mr Johnson replied: “The Home Secretary has faced racism and prejudice all her career of a kind he can never imagine.”