After England's devastating loss to Italy in the finals of the UEFA European Championship, three of the team's Black players endured intense, racist abuse on the internet.
The online attacks came primarily in response to the fact that all three players missed their shots in the penalty kicks that decided the game's result.
The verbal attacks on Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka, all under the age of 24 years old, eventually grew so upsetting that Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson even stepped in to scold the racist internet trolls.
As for 23-year-old Marcus Rashford, who just so happens to be a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire following his charity work with vulnerable children throughout the pandemic, he was fortunate enough to receive a swell of support from fans alongside the vitriol.
In a tweet, Rashford explained his side of the story with that penalty kick:
"I don't even know where to start and I don't even know how to put into words how I'm feeling at this exact time."
"I've had a difficult season, I think that's been clear for everyone to see and I probably went into that final with a lack of confidence."
After covering a few specifics of the kick itself, he returned to his emotional reflections.
"I felt as though I had let my teammates down. I felt as if I'd let everyone down. A penalty was all I'd been asked to contribute for the team.
"I can score penalties in my sleep so why not that one? It's been playing in my head over and over since I struck the ball and there's probably not a word to quite describe how it feels.
"Final. 55 years. 1 penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had gone differently."
Toward the end of the message, Rashford touched on the abusive comments he had received following the game.
"I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from."
pic.twitter.com/bs9lksGM4q— Marcus Rashford MBE (@Marcus Rashford MBE) 1626119189
Rashford followed his own words with gratitude for the unbelievable outpouring of support he'd received from fans--many of them children who penned letters trying to lift him up.
Simple, powerful comments like, "I hope you're not too sad" and "you are great" abounded in the notes.
pic.twitter.com/f7zT9gkAYk— Marcus Rashford MBE (@Marcus Rashford MBE) 1626119203
pic.twitter.com/QuhvARx0uQ— Marcus Rashford MBE (@Marcus Rashford MBE) 1626203041
Rashford's announcement only encouraged more support from others on Twitter.
All of Manchester and all of England is proud of you, Marcus— Manchester City (@Manchester City) 1626122749
You are a rock star.. and an inspiration to many..— Rajdeep Sardesai (@Rajdeep Sardesai) 1626180621
Marcus, you failed nobody. We support you when you win, we support you when you lose. Head up. Your life will be full of successes and failures. This is the way of life. Fail, get up, fail better. Life is all failing better.— Emma Kennedy\ud83d\udc99 (@Emma Kennedy\ud83d\udc99) 1626120071
If my sons grow up to be anything like you. I\u2019ll be the proudest dad alive bro— Guztavo Khanage (@Guztavo Khanage) 1626121594
Taking a penalty in a cup final isn't real pressure.\n\nReal pressure is not knowing where your next meal is coming from.\n\nThanks to @MarcusRashford millions of families around the country will feel slightly less pressure.\n\nHelping others is what true champions do pic.twitter.com/OOsZV0cPYA— Dr. Lucky Tran (@Dr. Lucky Tran) 1626122961
The skill required to send an international goalie completely the wrong way...\n\nMate you've literally been the best of this country both on and off the pitch for the last 18 months.\n\nYou're the one who's been let down.— Femi (@Femi) 1626120691
Hope you truly realise just what you mean to so many people. \n\nYou\u2019re just\u2026 it. You\u2019re what we\u2019d all hope we\u2019d be if we had the talent and determination you are blessed with. A role model for children, but not just that, a role model for us all.\n\nThank you Marcus.— Sport Witness (@Sport Witness) 1626123132
"I am Marcus Rashford, 23 year old, black man from Withington and Wytheshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that" This got me !— UtdDefence\ud83d\uded1\ud83d\udd30 (@UtdDefence\ud83d\uded1\ud83d\udd30) 1626119814
I'm Italian and you didn't deserve what they said to you, we stand with you Marcus, you're an inspiration to everyone, we know you'll come back stronger.— r!cky (@r!cky) 1626120663
Absolutely zero to apologise for - you stepped up under huge pressure and that\u2019s what matters. Don\u2019t let a matter of millimetres make you think otherwise. Football means a lot, character means a hell of a lot more. Be proud - the country is— Ben Kentish (@Ben Kentish) 1626120872
At only 23, Rashford likely has a long career ahead of him.
Here's hoping he continues to do great things on and off the field.
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