Twitter deletes over 1,000 racist tweets after Euro final

12 July 2021, 13:54

Twitter has deleted more than 1,000 tweets after some England footballers were the targets of racist abuse on social media
Twitter has deleted more than 1,000 tweets after some England footballers were the targets of racist abuse on social media. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

Twitter says it has deleted over 1,000 racist tweets after England footballers became the target of online racist abuse following their Euro 2020 final loss on Sunday.

Twitter called the abuse "abhorrent" and "unacceptable", and vowed to continue working with the football community to "tackle this issue collectively".

“The abhorrent racist abuse last night has absolutely no place on Twitter,” a Twitter spokesperson said on Monday.

“In the past 24 hours, through a combination of machine learning based automation and human review, we have swiftly removed over 1,000 Tweets and permanently suspended a number of accounts for violating our rules - the vast majority of which we detected ourselves proactively using technology.

Read more: Prince William 'sickened' by racist abuse aimed at England players

Read more: 'You did us so proud': Nation reacts to England's crushing Euro 2020 final loss to Italy

“We will continue to take action when we identify any Tweets or accounts that violate our policies.

“We have proactively engaged and continue to collaborate with our partners across the football community to identify ways to tackle this issue collectively and will continue to play our part in curbing this unacceptable behaviour - both online and offline.”

James O'Brien's stirring words on the England squad

Facebook-owned Instagram also saw a torrent of racist abuse aimed at players.

Facebook said that they were "quickly" removing racist comments and the accounts they came from, and said they were "committed" to protecting their community from abuse.

"No one should have to experience racist abuse anywhere, and we don’t want it on Instagram,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

“We quickly removed comments and accounts directing abuse at England’s footballers last night and we’ll continue to take action against those that break our rules.

Read more: Marcus Rashford mural defaced after England star's penalty miss

Read more: 49 arrests in central London after England's devastating Euro defeat

“In addition to our work to remove this content, we encourage all players to turn on Hidden Words, a tool which means no one has to see abuse in their comments or DMs.

“No one thing will fix this challenge overnight, but we’re committed to keeping our community safe from abuse.”

Ticketless fans jump Wembley perimeter to watch Euro 2020 final

Emotions ran high after Sunday's final, which saw Italy beat England in a penalty shootout.

Following the racist abuse levelled at players - particularly Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka who missed their penalties - the Football Association (FA) issued a statement saying social media companies needed to take more responsibility for content that is shared on their platforms.

Read more: Boris Johnson to address nation on whether July 19 unlocking can proceed

Read more: What time is Boris Johnson's Covid press briefing today? And what will he say?

"The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media," a spokesperson said.

"We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.

"We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences.

"Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The UK is on a 'slippery slope to death on demand', Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said in a letter to constituents.

'Slippery slope to death on demand': Justice Secretary details concern over assisted dying debate

Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open.

Andy Murray to coach old rival Novak Djokovic at Australian Open after retiring in August

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Negotiators from climate-vulnerable nations walk out of COP29 in row over funding deals

Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine

Kremlin warns 'a collision between the nuclear powers' is imminent as West fires missiles into Russia

Coleen Rooney on I'm A Celeb

'Wagatha Christie strikes again': Coleen Rooney uncovers I'm A Celeb secret as she calls out campmates

Chloe Barlow is one of the small business owners who will be affected by the change

'It's a mess': Small businesses hit out at EU red tape set to cost thousands, and say 'government has been no help'

Foreign tourists ride on boat in a river in Vang Vieng

Laos government 'saddened' by deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng which include South London woman

Leading brands are dumping Captain Tom Moore’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Top brands distance themselves from Captain Tom’s daughter after she cashed in on her father's legacy

Euston station has reopened

Euston station reopens after bomb squad carry out 'controlled explosion'

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 60 injured, Lebanon's health ministry has stated

Huge Israeli air strikes hit residential building in central Beirut, killing at least 11 people

Homebase was waiting on around £5 million of tax rebates before collapsing into administration

Full list of Homebase stores up for sale after chain collapses into administration

Live
Storm Bert has hit the UK

Live: Three dead as Storm Bert claims first victims as two die in car crashed and another is crushed by tree

The late Queen and Donald Trump

Queen Elizabeth found Donald Trump to be 'ignorant and hurtful' after Princess Margaret remark

Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads

Trains, planes and roads in chaos as Storm Bert sweeps UK with 82 mph winds and heavy snow

The Princess of Wales during a visit to Southport Community Centre

Princess Kate invites Southport stabbing survivors to Christmas carol concert after meeting them last month

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph

Gordon Brown says he will not support assisted dying bill