RACISM TO SWAY WHO TAKES OUR PENALTIES
Gareth admits Euros abuse will influence shootout calls
GARETH SOUTHGATE admits the disgusting social media abuse received by black england players after the euro 2020 final has complicated his selection for future penalty shootouts.
Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus rashford were targeted with racial abuse after they missed penalties in the shootout loss against Italy last summer.
The UK Football Policing unit received 600 reports of racist comments sent to england’s black players after the defeat and ruled 207 to be criminal — of which 123 were posted by people overseas, while 34 came from the UK. In august, police confirmed they had arrested 11 people in connection with the abuse.
When asked whether the abuse could be a factor when he chooses his penalty takers for the next shootout, Southgate said: ‘I have to say it never crossed my mind before... it will.
‘When I set out for the game that day I couldn’t help but feel, “have I created this situation here for the boys?”
‘But it wouldn’t be right to not pick the players you think are best to take them because of what the possible consequences of them missing would be. I’ve got to pick
them on the belief they are going to score. ‘We have had 55 years of talking about penalties and everything else. So we have now got another layer that is going to make it extremely difficult for us to win anything.’ Southgate notoriously missed a decisive penalty in the semi-final shootout loss to Germany at Wembley in Euro 1996. He was targeted with abuse and ridicule by fans — but Southgate says criticising players for missing penalties because of their race is nonsensical. ‘We know that’s ludicrous,’ said Southgate. ‘It’s outrageous to even think about. I’m trying to balance whether the question is about the racism itself, which is abhorrent and unacceptable, and what you are identifying, that there is another layer of complexity in making that decision. ‘We went through a process of preparing for penalties. We have definitely reviewed that. Some of the boys have taken more with their clubs. ‘Chelsea’s Reece James has had four in shootouts this year. Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool has had two. Bukayo has now taken a couple for his club Arsenal, which were massively courageous moments that epitomised what he is about. ‘But indirectly, we have created another layer of difficulty in overcoming a penalty shootout. I have got to take all of those things into consideration and it is incredibly complex. ‘One of the things that was very clear was that all the other big nations had far more who take regularly for their club. ‘We only had Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford, who was the second one in after Bruno Fernandes really. ‘We have got to do that work. Maybe they are getting some practice with clubs, which definitely Chelsea and Liverpool did this year. But we have got to cover that work in our camps on the days we can and make it really focused and specific. We are doing what we can. Psychology is definitely a part of it and I have to be aware of all of those things.’ Meanwhile, Southgate (right) has warned his players that Wales’ ‘dislike’ of England will act as an extra motivation for Rob Page’s side to pull off an upset when they face each other at the World Cup. Wales’ win over Ukraine in Sunday’s play-off means they will join England in Group B. ‘We know there are plenty of teams we could have played in that play-off draw that don’t like us particularly so that certainly adds to the way the opposition approach the game,’ said Southgate.