When three English football players missed their goals during the penalty shootout in the Euro 2020 final, it led to an onslaught of vile racist abuse and a mural in honour of one of the players being defaced with racist graffiti.
The two teams drew at extra time, and Italy won the penalty shootout 3-2. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka have been subjected to blatant racism online since.
This is what we did to obliterate the racist graffiti at the Marcus Rashford mural in Withington. I’m proud of Marcus, and I’m proud of the local people who defended him with messages of love and pride. pic.twitter.com/hTBWI6nYbe
— Harriet Monkhouse 🐝💙 (@HarrietMonkhaus) July 12, 2021
On the other side of the world, 7News, one of the major and most powerful networks in Australia, posted an article about England’s loss to Italy and the abuse that followed, with the caption: “Three black players failed in the penalty shootout”.
The post from 7News has been called out as racist, and it was subsequently edited to delete the world “black”. After calls for an apology from 7News, the post was eventually deleted. Screenshots of the original post have been shared across social media.
Co-Founder and Director of Media Diversity Australia Antoinette Lattouf said: “Keen to know what Seven West Media is going to do about this (other than delete it). I’m rarely at a loss for words, but tonight I am.”
While former Socceroo Craig Foster said 7News needed to make a public apology for the post.
“With racism a rising social scourge in Australia, on online platforms & athletes subject to vile abuse after #Euro2020Final + here in Australia, to see this from a major network in Australia is beyond disgusting,” Foster shared on Twitter.
With racism a rising social scourge in Australia, on online platforms & athletes subject to vile abuse after #Euro2020Final + here in Australia, to see this from a major network in Australia is beyond disgusting. Reprehensible. There needs to be a public apology @7NewsAustralia pic.twitter.com/KXluoT6ZBb
— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) July 12, 2021
7News released a statement saying the post was a “regrettable mistake” and that “the caption on the post was swiftly rectified as soon as it was identified”.
“We sincerely apologise for the offence the post caused.”
Another former Socceroo, Francis Awaritefe said: “Is there any surprise, that in an all white Australian newsroom- in this febrile climate – this vile headline can be posted on Twitter, then quietly deleted, after a surge of complaints, without an apology or any accountability?”
“This is not about individuals- racism is systemic.”
Is there any surprise, that in an all white Australian newsroom- in this febrile climate – this vile headline can be posted on Twitter, then quietly deleted, after a surge of complaints, without an apology or any accountability?
— Francis Awaritefe (@FrancisAwartefe) July 12, 2021
This is not about individuals- racism is systemic. pic.twitter.com/z2ZmvGm2EO