English response a final miss
Fans embarrass nation with reaction to loss
There wasn’t just missing out on the European title for a crestfallen and weary Gareth Southgate to contemplate.
The fallout from England fans’ boorish behavior was proving as painful for the coach and the nation on Monday than the previous night’s Euro 2020 final loss to Italy.
ANALYSIS
Crowds loaded with alcohol on the rampage sang offensively. Ticketless fans stormed past barricades into Wembley Stadium. And Black players who missed penalties in the shootout were attacked with racist abuse on social media.
Whereas England players have used their platforms to project compassion, advocacy and inclusion in recent months, those ideals are far from being universally adopted by some fans still wanting to latch onto and celebrate their footballing successes when it suits them.
“We can’t control that,” Southgate said. “We can only set the example we believe we should and represent the country in a way we feel we should when we are representing England.
“Everyone has to remember when they support the team that they are also representing England and they should represent what we stand for.”
Even when the government was cautioning the players against “gesture politics,” they continued to take a knee. When the government failed to condemn fans for booing their own players, the antiracism gesture continued to be performed just before kickoff and was adopted by the opposition.
When the government tried to shame players at the start of the pandemic to “play their part” in the national crisis, the stars led by England vice captain Jordan Henderson gathered backing across Premier League squads to donate to the National Health Service.
When the government refused to extend the provision of free meals for deprived children, it was England and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford who lobbied Prime Minister Boris Johnson until the policy was reversed to feed the needy.
When Raheem Sterling complained about racism in society, including the portrayal of Black players in headlines and the lack of diversity in coaching, the England and Manchester City forward sparked difficult and challenging conversations for the sport’s white-dominated leadership and media.
Queen Elizabeth II used her birthday honors list last month to award an MBE to Sterling for his efforts to promote racial equality and Henderson also became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his fundraising. The Liverpool captain has also worn rainbow laces at Euro 2020 to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
“We have, I think, had a positive effect on lots of areas of society but we can’t affect everything,” Southgate said.