Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has hit back at Home Secretary Priti Patel as the fallout continues from England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. The three players who missed penalties in the shootout against Italy, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, have been subjected to racist abuse on social media. The Home Secretary condemned the racist abuse aimed at Saka, Sacho and Rashford,
Priti Patel said: “I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media. It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.”
However, she has been critical of the act of taking a knee, saying before the tournament: “I just don’t support people participating in that type of gesture politics.”
Mings has now taken to Twitter to address Patel directly,
Tyrone Mings posting: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”
Regarding the tournament itself and the aftermath, the Villa ace
Tyrone Mings added: “I’m still struggling to find the words to express my emotions from the past month. I’m so proud of everyone who has contributed to the joy and togetherness this team has brought to millions. We have celebrated, smiled, cried and cheered together and for that, I’m so so proud. But waking up today and seeing my brothers being racially abused for being brave enough to put themselves in a position to help this country, is something that sickens, but doesn’t surprise me. We have literally made history. We’ve gone where no one else has gone. Take that in.”
