England’s Euro 2020 defender Tyrone Mings has accused the home secretary, Priti Patel, of pretending to be disgusted by racist abuse, after she previously described taking the knee as "gesture politics". Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho were targeted after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final. Patel was quoted as saying that she was disgusted by the online abuse directed at the trio.

Mings said that she ‘stoked the fire’ by refusing to criticise fans who booed the England team for taking the knee. Patel declined to comment on his tweet, but Downing Street said she was "working every day to clamp down on hate crime, racism and violence".

The Aston Villa star was angered by a perceived lack of action by the government when some fans booed the players taking the knee before the tournament. Taking the knee has become a prominent symbol in sport and during anti-racist protests in recent years, and England players have been adopting the stance at the start of their matches.

In June, Patel said that she would not support people participating in that type of “gesture politics". When asked if she would criticise fans who booed England players taking the knee she said: "That's a choice for them, quite frankly."

Writing on Twitter, Mings said: "You don't get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as 'Gesture Politics' and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we're campaigning against, happens".

The government defended Patel, but saying: "There is no place for racism in this country and she is backing the police to hold those responsible for this abuse accountable." Health Secretary Sajid Javid, on the other hand, said that he fully respected players who took the knee, adding that everyone should show respect to those who did so.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to discuss online abuse, but former Premier League footballer Anton Ferdinand, himself a victim of racist abuse during his career, told the government: "Sort your own house out before going after social media platforms.”

He said there was no point in the government talking about what it was planning to do when, as the people that run this country, they are not condemning those who boo players taking the knee. How can you not condemn that, but then come out and say it's about social media?"

After apologising for missed his penalty in a statement posted on Twitter, Rashford added: "I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from." A mural of him in his hometown of Withington was defaced after his penalty miss - but it was later covered in hundreds of messages of support and solidarity.

He said that he was on the verge of tears when he saw the supportive messages – before the mural has since been repaired. England captain Harry Kane said that Rashford, Saka and Sancho deserve support and backing, not the vile racist abuse they received.

"If you abuse anyone on social media you're not an England fan and we don't want you," he added.

England manager, Gareth Southgate, called the racist abuse issued after the defeat "unforgivable", with the English Football Association also condemning it. The Metropolitan Police is investigating the abuse and said that it will not be tolerated, while the UKFPU (UK Football Policing Unit) has also launched an investigation.

Tyrone Mings's intervention comes after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused PM Johnson of having "failed the test of leadership" by not condemning fans who booed England players taking the knee. Ahead of Euro 2020, after England's final warm-up game, Downing Street stopped short of condemning fans who had booed players who took part in the anti-racism protest.

Seemingly stopping short of declaring to support the taking of the knee, Johnson later said he wanted supporters to cheer England players, and not boo them.

Addressing those who sent abuse, the prime minister said: "Shame on you - I hope you will crawl back under the rock from which you emerged." Sir Keir said Mr Johnson's comments had come too late, adding: "The actions and inactions of leaders have consequences, so I'm afraid the prime minister's words today ring hollow."

The home secretary was also criticised by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi - a former Conservative minister - who said: "If we 'whistle' and the 'dog' reacts we can't be shocked if it barks and bites. It's time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division. Dog whistles win votes but destroy nations."

Another Conservative MP, Fay Jones, said that she supported players trying to fight racism. However, she said that “taking the knee is a political symbol. I think that's the problem that certain people have had with it".

The abuse received in the aftermath of the defeat against Italy also raised questions about the role of social media companies, with the home secretary saying: “Social media companies could no longer ignore some of the appalling, vile, racist, violent and hateful content that appears on their platforms.

"We have been clear that if they do not stamp this out we will take action against them in the Online Safety Bill." The proposed legislation is yet to be published but it could give the media watchdog Ofcom powers to fine social media companies up to £18m if they fail in their duty of care.

The Football Association has also urged social media companies to ban abusers from their platforms, as well as gathering evidence to make prosecutions easier. In a statement, Facebook said it had removed comments and accounts directing abuse at England's footballers.

Following an early first-half Luke Shaw volley, then a second-half Leonardo Bonucci equaliser, it was the dreaded penalty shoot-out that proved, once again the downfall of a brave, young England, in last night’s epic Euro 2020 final battle against eventual winners, Italy, at Wembley.

The Three Lions' wait for their first Euros title and, indeed first major tournament victory since World Cup in 1966 will continue onto Qatar, next year, but the nation’s ‘hurt,’ obviously palpable, following last night’s event, the group of young, now seasoned England talents will take their collective experiences, gathered, especially over the past 4-weeks, with, in good time, a view to bringing the Jules Rimet Trophy back to these shows – with the experiences of July 11 2021 a ‘stepping stone’ to the ultimate ‘goal.’

A first-half of end-to-end football saw full-back, Shaw, convert a stunning volley past Azzurri goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma – the fastest in Euro history - before Bonucci stabbed in a deserved equalizer following a goal-mouth scramble, in the second-half. Unbeaten in 33 matches before this final, it was after a tense period of extra time failed to find a winner, that the dreaded penalty shoot-out, again, was the defining factor – and the bain of the Three Lions.

With Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho missing their penalties, despite Jordan Pickford saving from Andrea Belotti and Jorginho, it was Bukayo Saka’s missed spot-kick which saw England lose a nerve-shredding shootout 3-2 to the Italians. Gareth Southgate's bid to end their 55-year wait for a major trophy ended in the familiar agony of defeat in a penalty shootout as the Azzurri claimed a European crown for a second time.

They made history by reaching a major final for only the second time in their history, but, nevertheless, they made history, and brought the nation together – in time for the FIFA World Cup – in 18 months.

Following England stars Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka’s missed spot-kicks, for them to be so severely targeted on social media after the game seemingly proves that the vile stigma that has been the Bain of football – in particular, and British society – in general – looks like, in no way, to be at an end.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford apologised for his penalty shootout miss, but said he that he will never apologise for who he is after he – and his two other teammates were subjected to a torrent of racist abuse following England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.

In his Withington hometown, a mural of striker, Rashford, was defaced after his penalty miss - before it was covered in messages of support. Captain, Harry Kane, openly criticised the England fans who racially abused the three stars, whilst manager, Gareth Southgate, said that the racist abuse was unforgivable. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Football Association also expressed their condemned it.

Racial abuse in football is proving to be an issue of “pandemic” proportions – so, there’s nothing different there – that’s the reason why they feel the need to have to ‘take a knee.’ And, that in itself created the ‘tone’ of what was expected from the Wembley terraces, as when both England and Italy players paid their respective respect to the equal lives for the culturally oppressed – and, indeed, all-round equality – the shameful booing was load and palpable.

In the 1970s and 80s, racial abuse was rife in football. There was the ‘regulation’ “Monkey chanting,” fans would throw darts, banana skins, and unpeeled bananas, at Black players on the pitch – whichever side he played for.

When former England great, John Barnes, scored his ‘Brazil-esq’ wonder-goal, against Brazil, in the Maracanã Stadium in 1984, it was the major highlight of a famous 2-1 for the Three Lions then. But, some England ‘fans’ declared the result as a 1-1 draw – dismissing one of the greatest ever goals by an England player. It was that blatant. It was also that regular back then.

Nearly 40-years on, dot much has changed. Following England’s defeat, defender Tyrone Mings hit out at Home Secretary Priti Patel following her condemnation of the racist abuse faced by his teammates. This previously calling players taking the knee “gesture politics.”

"I can take critique of my performance all day long,” Rashford (23) said. “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.

"I've felt no prouder moment than wearing those Three Lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of 10s of thousands." In their defence, England captain, Kane, said: "They deserve support and backing, not the vile racist abuse they've had since last night.

"Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up and take a pen when the stakes were high. If you abuse anyone on social media you're not an England fan and we don't want you."

"I'm Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old Black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester.

“If I have nothing else I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I'll be back stronger. We'll be back stronger." The Metropolitan Police is investigating the abuse and said that it will not be tolerated, while the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) has also launched an investigation.

Back in 1984, the powers-that-be back then said that they will not “tolerate racial abuse” that was a “fast-growing” trait back then – and more overt.

Just how much has things changed since Barnes. ‘worldy’strike?

Jaguar UK’s mission to bring a taste of Wimbledon to the whole country continues this week with Jaguar retailers up and down the nation donating crucial tennis equipment to local schools, families and communities.

The series of ‘Kit Drops’ up and down the country was kicked off last week with a pop-up Centre Court experience at Malmesbury Primary School in Merton, London, arranged by Jaguar UK and attended by tennis ambassador Kyle Edmund and TV presenter, author and mental health advocate Frankie Bridge. Edmund and Bridge led an introductory tennis session for the School’s Year 6 pupils with the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s Dan Bloxham, to bring some fun and inspiration to their PE lesson.

Now, Jaguar UK retailers are doing their part to bring the Wimbledon Spirit to the whole country, with the latest handover completed by Sturgess Jaguar Leicester today. The retailer arrived in a fully-electric Wimbledon-branded I-PACE at the Matt Hampson Foundation, a charity that helps to rehabilitate and support beneficiaries seriously injured through sport. Included in the ‘Kit Drop’ were rackets, balls, nets, Jaguar water bottles and more.

Jaguar Leicester joins retailers in London, Brighton, Swansea, Crewe, Glasgow and many more who have generously donated equipment to organisations in their local areas. It’s one small part of Jaguar UK’s mission – as Official Partner of The Championships, Wimbledon in 2021 –  to put into place an out-of-tournament community programme to build a tennis legacy.

The Championships continued today, with a number of VIP guests arriving in SW19 by all-electric I-PACE, just as many players and VIPs have throughout the tournament so far. Among them were Billie Piper, Dr. Alex George, Naomi Smart, Sarah Anne Macklin and Laura Haddock, who each took their seats in Centre Court for the latest action from Wimbledon.

Rawdon Glover, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK added: “The recent pandemic has brought huge disruption to children and young people’s lives. In many cases children are much less active than before. With everything unlocking, we at Jaguar are wanting to encourage children to return to regular exercise and enjoy playing sport collectively. Through our partnership with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, we are proud to be delivering a national programme that will help build a tennis legacy to communities who need support the most.”

The British team secured four medals on the final day of the European U23 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia to bring the total to eight medals. Molly Caudery [pole vault], Lucy Hadaway [long jump], Thomas Randolph [800m] and Erin Wallace [1500m] all reached the podium as the Championships rounded off at the Kadriorg Stadium.

It was a silver medal for Molly Caudrey in the pole vault after going neck and neck with the eventual winner, Amalie Svabikova (CZE). With both women clearing 4.45m, a season’s best for the British Athletics Futures Academy athlete, she passed at 4.50 metres to try and win it with a height of 4.55m. However, after two fouls at that height the victory went to the Czech athlete. 

A delighted Caudrey said, “I am really really happy with that. It is slightly bittersweet with that ending as I took two follow throughs at 4.55 but it is great to get a medal. 4.45 is a great height and it was a very long competition.” There were three bronze medals for the British team in the space of ten minutes at the start of an exciting final session. 

First, Erin Wallace fought hard on the final straight and threw herself over the line to secure the bronze in the 1500m in 4:14.85. The race had been a tactical battle all the way through with all the athletes still in the race as the bell went. As they entered the home straight, Wallace was in contention for bronze and despite the last-ditch efforts of Spain’s Agueda Munoz, Wallace just had enough to secure her place on the podium.

After the race she said, “I thought I am not going to make it if I don’t throw myself at the line so that’s what I did and I am glad I did.  It was worth it for the medal.  I think I ran the race well although the last lap really hurt but I am so so glad I got a medal.  I saw a wee space at 200m so took my chance and then pushed on to the line.” 

Meanwhile an exceptionally high-class long jump competition was coming to its conclusion. Lucy Hadaway leapt a PB in round four of 6.63m (+1.7) following a 6.55m personal best in round three to take the bronze medal. She matched the 6.63m leap in the final round to further consolidate her impressive result. The competition was won by Hungary’s Petra Farkas with a best of 6.73m.

Hadaway was happy with her consistency during both the final and qualification, “It is my first medal for GB and I still haven’t processed it. I wasn’t completely happy with any of the jumps (in qualification), but I knew there was something bigger. To get PB after PB and jump over 6.60m for the first time, especially as I have had limited training following injury and covid, so I am so happy to have come into form and come away with a bronze medal today. The standard in the long jump is just insane, so it is really special to be involved in it.”

The three British athletes in the men’s 800m final were looking to continue Britain’s great history at this event over recent years. In a very exciting and hard-fought race with six runners still in with a chance of a medal in the final few metres remaining, Thomas Randolph dipped at the line to secure third place and the bronze medal in a PB of 1:46.41 with Ben Pattison a whisker behind him in fourth in 1:46.48 and Finlay McLear sixth in 1:47.52. 

Afterwards an elated and bloodied Randolph said, “This season has been amazing. I aimed for the time, got that, got selected and aimed for the final thinking anything can happen and it has!  You can’t beat a PB in a tactical race like that and to come away with a bronze medal is special. I was happy to start in lane eight so I see people. On the bend I could see a space and took it and thought I could get the win, but the legs couldn’t quite manage that.”

It was an excellent fourth place for Joel Khan in the high jump final. With four athletes clear at 2.17m he was agonisingly close with his final jump at 2.20m and had to settle for fourth place on the countback after one foul at 2.17m.

The British Championships silver medallist, said, “It is a difficult position to be in as I know I could have won it but I’m not disappointed because I enjoyed that final jump so much. To know I was so close to winning with that jump with the crowd behind me is exactly why I do this sport.  It was fantastic to get that international experience that I need.” 

During the morning session, the women’s javelin final took place with Bekah Walton finishing in fifth place with her first throw in the series of 53.46m. The British champion couldn’t quite match her PB of 54.27m from the qualifying on Friday but was happy with the consistency of her performance in Tallinn. 

The Loughborough student said, “I came in ranked 22nd and came out fifth so I shouldn’t be disappointed but having sat in a medal position for so long, you really want a taste of it, so it is little bittersweet. I’ll walk away happy and keep looking to improve for the rest of the season.” In the final of women’s 4 x 400m relay, Britain finished in fifth position in a time of 3:33.06.

Hannah Kelly got the team off to a solid start, handing over to Zoe Pollock who impressed in the 400m hurdles earlier in the Championship. She handed over to heptathlon bronze medallist Holly Mills in a tie for fifth position, which Mills maintained as she handed over to Isabelle Boffey for the anchor leg. The 800m champion, who has starred in the 4x400m relay at previous championships, brought the team home, as Czech Republic sealed the gold.

The British outfit ultimately finished sixth in the men’s 4 x 400m relay final as a collision between a number of teams saw the British and Swiss athletes floored as they entered the home straight, which would later see the Dutch team, who crossed the line in gold medal position, disqualified.

Lewis Davey had put the British team in the lead after leg one as he handed to Alex Haydock-Wilson. He ran well to exchange the baton to Aidan Leeson in second before the incident on third leg unfolded. Leeson showed real determination to get back to his feet to handover to Alastair Chalmers who brought the team home in 3:09.28.

Mid-session, the 5000m women had been ready to start when the stadium experienced a power cut forcing an interruption in competition. Once resumed, Izzy Fry competed hard to finish eighth in 16:01.30. 

She said afterwards, “It felt like we waited for 20 minutes, and I tried to stay calm and not use too much energy.  Once the race started, I stayed with the pack for a long while but chopped and changed positions a bit so maybe used too much energy. Then when the break went, I couldn’t go with it but the gap never changed so that was frustrating.”

In the 4 x 100m women’s relay final the British team saw Alisha Rees pull up with an injury on the second leg, so were unable to finish.

The British quartet of Ellie Booker, Alisha Rees, Georgina Adam and Kristal Awuah had cruised through their heat in a European U23 record of 43.62 to see off strong challenges from France and Italy.

In the men’s sprint relay final, the team of Dominic Ashwell, Jeremiah Azu, James Hanson and Brandon Mingeli did not finish after an unsuccessful baton change at the first handover.

Earlier, the British team of James Hanson, Jeremiah Azu, Dominic Ashwell and Destiny Ogali had qualified comfortably.

Results:

British team medals:

GOLD (2): 

Jeremiah Azu – Men’s 100m

Isabelle Boffey – Women’s 800m

SILVER (1):

Molly Caudery – Women’s Pole Vault

BRONZE (5):

Kristal Awuah – Women’s 100m

Lucy Hadaway – Women’s Long Jump

Holly Mills – Women’s Heptathlon

Thomas Randolph – Men’s 800m

Erin Wallace – Women’s 1500m

It was 800m gold for Isabelle Boffey (coach: Luke Gunn, club: Enfield & Haringey), while there were a host of fourth and fifth places on an exciting third day of action at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.

Boffey won the 800m in some style, after going through at the bell in third place she made a decisive move to the front of the field down the backstraight and after that there was only ever one winner as she pushed on to another European title.

Boffey, who is on the British Athletics Futures Academy programme, now has the full set of age-group championship gold medals with today’s victory adding to her titles from the European U20s in 2019 and U18s in 2016.

The University of Birmingham student, who finished today’s race in 2:01.80, said, “I am buzzing. I showed that as I crossed the line. I have run 2:01 a few times this season and I really wanted to bring my best to the champs. I tried to stick to my plan, and I knew if I did that, I could secure the gold. I now want to get into some quick races to get these times down and get a time for next season’s championships.”

She added, “The middle distances in the UK just now is insane and I just need to train hard to get on their level next year.”

Khahisa Mhlanga (Mick Judd, Herts Phoenix) came in a strong fourth place in 2:04.05 overtaking three others in the home straight.  She was delighted with her performance, “I am pleased. It went out very quick, but I hung on in there and I managed to pick off a few in the last lap. I really enjoyed it.”

Shemar Boldizsar (Stephen David Loft, Harlow) was looking to retain his European U23 200m title, but in the final he could not match his exploits from 2019. As he approached the line, he was in contention for the bronze medal but there was a late shuffle in the placings as athletes dipped to the line, and he ultimately finished in sixth place in a time of 20.84 (0.3). Swiss athlete, William Reais, was a clear winner in a European U23 record of 20.47. 

Earlier in the day, Boldizsar had made no mistake qualifying from his semi-final in 21.28 (w-2.6). After the final he said, “It was a very fast race. I felt strong going into the final, but I just got taken in the last 10 metres. I think I was too tense in the race, but I will learn from that.”

In a 17-man 1500m final it was always going to be a tactical and scrappy affair, but the British pair of   George Mills (Jon Bigg, Brighton Phoenix) and Joshua Lay (Anthony Love, Rugby & Northampton) did well to negotiate the field to finish in fifth and eighth respectively.

Mills, the 2016 European U18 champion, battled through traffic in the closing stages to post a time of 3:40.91. He summarised post-race, "It was a super, messy race and you had to try and be patient and position yourself as best you could. Unfortunately, today that wasn’t possible and although I would have liked to finish in the medals after a couple of rough weeks with results in races, I am happy to come away with fifth here.”

Lay, who clocked a time of 3:41.29 said, “I am disappointed after executing well for the first 3 laps, and I got in good positions but then I let people come past on the backstraight and I was back in fourth by the 100m, but I didn’t have it in my legs today.”

Anna Purchase (Rob Careless, Notts) and Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Robert Halliwell, Wigan & District) finished fourth and fifth respectively in the women’s hammer final. 

Purchase, the Berkeley University student, throwing her second furthest ever with her second round of 65.11m was delighted with her performance, saying, “It has been a really hard year, so I am very proud today. I had to quarantine for 17 days after going to and fro from the US so to do this is really special.”

Simpson-Sullivan also achieved the longest throw of her series in round two with 64.84m but was left slightly disappointed after her final throw, which looked to have gone over 65m, just clipped the cage so was marked as a foul. 

She said, “I didn’t do too well in the qualification, so I was looking to do better today. But I am so pleased to be here and have my first GB vest.  Next year is going to be very competitive with lots of good girls coming through. The big goal is to be the second British woman over 70m.”

In the men’s 110m hurdles, co-captain Tade Ojora (Caryl Smith-Gilbert, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) was just pipped into fourth place by one-hundredth of a second, finishing in 13.45 (-1.6) with Josh Zeller (Adrian Brown, Bracknell AC) coming home in sixth in a time of 13.76.

Ojora, the British Champion, “My start was good but towards the end I really started worrying about people each side of me instead of focusing on my own race which is upsetting. I didn’t come here for fourth, but I’ll be back.”

The women’s 100m hurdles final was another quick race on the fast Tallinn track with Anastasia Davies (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley) finishing in eighth place in 13.53 (-0.9).

In an extremely competitive men’s 400m hurdles final, the first five finishers all achieved personal bests including Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin, Amber Valley & Erewash) who was fourth in a PB of 49.37, just three-tenths outside the medal places.

British champion, Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey) finished sixth in a season best of 49.80, while the winner, Alessandro Sibilio of Italy, finished in a European U23 lead time of 48.42.

Knibbs, who improved upon his eighth place at the Euro U23s two years ago, said afterwards, “That race was fast. I am amazed with that PB. I gave it my best, so I am happy with a PB.”

The women’s 3000m steeplechase was run in very high temperatures with Sarah Tait (Linda Smith, Lasswade) and Elise Thorner (Wells City) keeping with the leading group with three laps to go. Unable to stay with that pace especially in the heat, the 20-year-old Scot, Tait finished in an excellent fifth in 10:04.53, while the Wells City athlete worked hard to cross the line in eighth in 10:12.41.

Even at 8pm in the evening it was still more than 30 degrees in the stadium for the men’s 5000m race. In the A race, Tom Mortimer (Christopher Brown, Stroud) ran a determined first 3k, taking it on after seven laps until German, Mohamed Mohumed took the lead and pushed the pace.

The Briton was closed down by Icelandic and Spanish pair, Magnusson and Las Heras just before the bell so Mortimer would finish the contest in fourth place in 13:48.67, which would stand after the B race.

He said, “Knowing there was another race I needed to take it on. I knew we needed to do sub-14. I was pleased Mohumed took it out, but I couldn’t handle it in the end.”

Isaac Akers (Bill Boyd, Crosby) finished tenth in the A race (adjusted to 13th overall after the second race) in 14:07.07. Unfortunately, Rory Leonard (Morpeth) retired after seven laps.

In the women’s 200m final, Kiah Dubarry-Gay (Clarence Callender, Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets) ran 23.32 (-0.4) from lane eight to finish fifth overall in her first European final. During the morning session she enjoyed a superb semi-final to achieve a PB of 23.29 (-1.3) and ensure her final place.

Running in the second semi-final earlier in the day, Georgina Adam (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students) had a long wait to see if her 23.57 (-1.2) would be sufficient to advance as a fastest non-auto qualifier but with a very fast final heat it was not be. 

Earlier this morning, Lucy Hadaway (Matt Barton, City of York) secured her place in Sunday’s long jump final with a leap of 6.48m in the third and final round which gave her automatic qualification and the second longest jump from both qualification groups. 

Afterwards she said, “It was a very early start so it took me a couple of rounds, but I don’t feel too tired after it and I feel I can go bigger in the final. Each jump today can be improved on technically, so I am confident tomorrow.”

The European Athletics Under 23 Championships runs from 8 to 11 July in Tallinn, Estonia.  It will be streamed live on the European Athletics website with events getting underway at 7:40am BST on Sunday.

Results:https://tallinn21-u23results.european-athletics.com/en/results/athletics/daily-schedule.htm

British team medals:

GOLD (2): 

Jeremiah Azu – Men’s 100m

Isabelle Boffey – Women’s 800m

BRONZE (2):

Kristal Awuah – Women’s 100m

Holly Mills – Women’s Heptathlon