UK to ban online racists from games after Euro 2020 uproar
LONDON (AP) - U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans to ban anyone guilty of online racist abuse from attending soccer matches after three members of England´s national team were targeted following its loss in the European Championship final.
Johnson on Wednesday condemned the abuse leveled at three Black players after they failed to score penalties in England's shootout defeat to Italy on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.
And Johnson told the House of Commons it was time to act. The government plans to add online racism to the list of offenses for which fans can be barred from matches, he said.
"What we are doing is taking practical steps to ensure that the football banning regime is changed so that if you are guilty of racist abuse online on football, then you will not be going to the match,´´ Johnson said during his weekly prime minister´s questions session. "No ifs, no buts, no exemptions, no excuses."
Courts are allowed to issue banning orders if a fan is convicted of a "relevant offence" linked to a match, including crimes such as disorderly behavior or possession of weapons.
England's manager Gareth Southgate embraces Bukayo Saka after he failed to score a penalty during a penalty shootout after extra time during of the Euro 2020 soccer championship final match between England and Italy at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, July 11, 2021. (Carl Recine/Pool Photo via AP)
A view of a digital mural of England players, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka in Manchester, England, Wednesday July 14, 2021. The mural was unveiled on Tuesday after the three Black players missed penalty kicks in the final moments of the national soccer team's European Championship loss to Italy and received racist abuse on social media. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
