Portsmouth football club sacked three of their youth players for racially attacking Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka via a private group chat.
Recall that Rashford, Sancho, and Saka were subjected to racial attacks on social media after they missed their spot-kicks during Euro 2020 final between England and Italy at the Wembley Stadium on July 11.
It was so bad that some irate football fans had to destroy Rashford’s mural just to demonstrate their bitterness towards the Manchester United star.
During that period, three Portsmouth youth players were also involved in racially attacking the three England internationals in a Snapchat private group chat. Unfortunately for them, the chat was leaked to the extent it got to the authority of the club.
Immediately the screenshot of the private group chat got to the management of Portsmouth, the club commenced an investigation into the case to ascertain the validity and the identities of the players involved. Afterward, the three players whose names were not revealed were asked to leave the club.
Based on the content of the leaked private chat, one of the players wrote that Marcus Rashford deserved to be ‘lynched’ for missing a penalty shootout. The individual followed that up by adding that the house of the England international ought to be ‘bombed’.
Another individual on the private chat used the “N” word and also wrote that “all black ones missed.” While one called for “death threats” to be sent to Rashford, Saka, and Sancho for missing their spot-kicks.
They went on to flood the private group chat with different racists emojis especially emojis of monkeys.
While announcing the sacking of the three racists, Portsmouth confirmed in a statement that the three under-18 players have been released from the club’s academy.
The club however stressed that their decision is not a rubber stamp as the three youngsters have the right to appeal the club’s decision, adding that the club is committed to eliminating any form of discrimination.
The statement read: “Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that the investigation – and subsequent disciplinary process – into discriminatory messages that originated from an academy U18 private group chat has now concluded.
“We can confirm that a decision has been made today (July 28) to release three players from the academy. These players do have the right to appeal the club’s decision.
“Portsmouth Football Club are fully committed to the elimination of all forms of discrimination.
“We are part of a diverse community and are dedicated to promoting an environment of equality and inclusion at all times – both inside the football club and in our wider society.
“We also continue to respectfully appeal for everyone’s consideration in their use of social media posts directed towards any of the club’s employees and any other external parties.”
Portsmouth Football Club used to be a prominent Premier League side but things have gotten so bad for the club that they now play in the third tier of the English football league system, popularly known as EFL League One.
