The police in the United Kingdom have confirmed the arrest of four people who are linked to the racial abuse three English footballers suffered after the Euro 2020 final.
Futballnews reported that Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes were racially attacked online for missing their spot-kicks during the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy on July 11.
The amount of racial attack on the players attracted condemnation from fellow players, football administrators, and the Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson.
Two of the victims of the racial attack – Sancho and Rashford have taken to their separate social media accounts to apologize for missing their spot-kicks and condemned the racial abuse targeted at them.
Earlier, the English football association announced that investigation to unravel those behind the racial attack on the English players has commenced. The investigation yielded fruit late on Wednesday as four people have so far been fished out by the police.
While announcing the number of arrests that have been made so far, a police statement warned that those who were involved in abusing the English stars after Euro 2020 final would be fished out.
The statement revealed that the four people were arrested after several data were submitted to social media companies. The synergy between the police and the social media owners helped to facilitate the arrest of the four people.
“A hate crime investigation is underway by the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), with a dedicated team of investigators working their way through a large number of reports from across the country”, a police statement read.
“Dozens of data applications have been submitted to social media companies and four people have been arrested by local police forces.”
While Chief Constable Mark Roberts, National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Policing Lead, said: “If we identify that you are behind this crime, we will track you down, and you will face the serious consequences of your shameful actions.
“The racial abuse aimed at our players following Sunday night’s game is utterly vile and has quite rightly shocked and appalled people across the country.
“Our England team have been true role models during the tournament, conducting themselves with professionalism and dignity. I’m disgusted there are individuals out there who think it’s acceptable to direct such abhorrent abuse at them, or anybody else.”
