Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on Monday condemned the racial abuse of three black players on social media following their defeat in the Euro final and wondered whether the country should be given the right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Pietersen, the former captain of the national team, was caught in the chaos following England’s defeat to Italy in a penalty kick at the Wembley Stadium. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Football Association (FA), who already stood in support of the three racially abused England players, were joined by the former cricketer Pietersen.
“The walk I took with Dylan to get our car home last night was scary absolutely HORRENDOUS! This behaviour in 2021?? The abuse of the players who gave us so much joy??” tweeted Pietersen and questioned, “Do we actually deserve the 2030 World Cup?”
The walk I took with Dylan to get our car home last night was scary absolutely HORRENDOUS!
This behaviour in 2021?? 🤬
The abuse of the players who gave us so much joy?? 🤬Do we actually deserve the 2030 World Cup? 🤔
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 12, 2021
The same day the prime minister also took over Twitter to write, This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media. Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.
Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 12, 2021
In another tweet, Pietersen wrote: “The media in UK is probably the most powerful in the world. It should be a responsibility of theirs, to enforce the social media giants into verifying EVERY SINGLE PERSON that has an account. No robots & no fake accounts! ACCOUNTABILITY for all! It’s destroying society!”
The media in UK is probably the most powerful in the world. It should be a responsibility of theirs, to enforce the social media giants into verifying EVERY SINGLE PERSON that has an account.
No robots & no fake accounts!
ACCOUNTABILITY for all!
It’s destroying society!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 12, 2021
The country’s top body, the FA, has also condemned the racial abuse of its players. The FA reported that the English team took a knee before all their matches to highlight the issue of racism throughout the tournament. Captain Harry Kane and Harry Maguire scored two goals for England in the game. The next three shots were taken by Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Saka – all black teammates.
Sancho and Saka’s shots were blocked by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rashford’s shots were hit vertically. Italy scored two goals in their last three strokes to win their first Euro title since 1968.
