Jermaine Jenas slams Euro 2020 fans for racially abusing players: ‘They’re humans, not just footballers’

On The One Show tonight cohost Jermaine Jenas slammed football fans for racially abusing England team players online.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka have been bombarded with despicable racist abuse after the Three Lions lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

They were flooded with abhorrent slurs and monkey and banana emojis on social media after missing penalties and have received a bevvy of other horrible messages.

Jermaine was one of the commentators on the night, and he has since expressed his disappointment in the behaviour that he’s seen.

He shared how difficult it was witnessing the defeat last night in Wembley Stadium.

‘The atmosphere was building, the fans were loud and the players responded early, the goal absolutely lit the place but the Italians found their way back into the game eventually. It was tough, it was really really tough,’ he told cohost Alex Jones.

Jermaine Jenas slammed racist football fans (Picture: Visionhaus)

Alex and Jermaine shared their disgust (Picture: ITV)

‘And for those players who stood up to take those penalties at the end, it’s hard for me to explain to you the courage these boys had, they’ve all done this country so proud.

‘These are all really tough moments for all England players, especially waking up this morning, it would have hurt them, they would be devastated as we all are as a country.’

Jermaine went on to say that the team’s manager, Gareth Southgate, has been a terrific member of the team.

He said it was great to see him consoling the players who missed the penalties, explaining that ‘the pain those players are going through’ is ‘so hard for them to deal with’.

Gareth Southgate consoled Bukayo Saka during the Euro 2020 final (Picture: Getty Images)

Alex said everyone’s ‘hearts were in their mouths for them’ and acknowledged the appalling reaction from fans.

She said: ‘Today, it’s so depressing isn’t it, to read that these so-called fans, the behaviour has been appalling. These racist comments to these young boys who tried their best, didn’t they?’

Jermaine added that the racist comments that have been shared online are ‘absolutely disgusting’.

‘We need to protect these players, these are the players of our future, these are the players where if we want to win a world cup, if we want to win a trophy, we need to look after [them],’ he explained.

The England team during the penalty shoot (Picture: PA)

‘These are also the players that have been lauded throughout this whole competition and been loved throughout this whole competition as well. And for one moment in their game, for them to be treated as they have been… They’re human beings, not just footballers.

‘It’s absolutely disgraceful what has happened and hopefully, the authorities will get involved with those that have racially been abused online.’

This comes after England players stood against racism by taking the knee at the start of every single game – despite loud booing from crowds.

More: Marcus Rashford

Boris Johnson has slammed those behind the racist comments, saying they ‘should be ashamed of themselves’.

Home Secretary Priti Patel – who has previously insisted fans have a right to boo players who take the knee – said she was ‘disgusted by the vile abuse’.

The One Show airs weeknights on BBC at 7pm.

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