Bolt describes racist abuse of England trio as ‘horrible’ and ‘unfair’

Record ID: 1626301

  • Title: Bolt describes racist abuse of England trio as ‘horrible’ and ‘unfair’
  • Date: 14th July 2021
  • Summary: KINGSTON, JAMAICA. (JULY 13, 2021)(REUTERS) USAIN BOLT WALKING ON THE SET OF COMMERICAL SHOOT (SOUNDBITE)(English) USAIN BOLT BEING ASKED ABOUT RACIAL ABUSE FOLLOWING THE EURO FINAL IN ENGLAND "First of all that's horrible to know… for me it's very tough to see these things. As an African and a black person, I can tell it must be rough on them and you can't blame these guys, they don't make the decision of who take the penalties. I saw that they came on in the last minute. As a coach I wouldn't have put that on somebody at that point and for a tough kick for a nineteen-year-old. That's a lot of pressure you understand. It (racial abuse) was very unfair and I can't believe this is where football is headed, I've loved football through my entire career, I've followed all these players and I've always cheered for them, so it tough to see something like that going on."
  • Embargoed: 28th July 2021 01:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KINGSTON, JAMAICA
  • City: KINGSTON, JAMAICA
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Athletics,Sport,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ELODVEN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The world's fastest man Jamaican Olympian Usain Bolt has told Reuters that racism has no place in football or in society, while reacting to the racial abuse which have been directed at the England trio of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka who missed crucial penalties as Italy won the Euro 2020 title on Sunday.
    "You can be upset at a person for missing because we are human, but if you're going to bring race into it, then it has no place in football or just in general," Bolt told Reuters on Tuesday in Kingston.
    The man winner of the 100m and 200m double the three consecutive Olympics 2008, 2012 and 2016 described the racial abuse directed at the players as horrifying.
    "First of all that's horrible to know… for me it's very tough to see these things. As an African and a black person, I can tell it must be rough on them and you can't blame these guys, they don't make the decision of who take the penalties," Bolt reasoned.
    "Its football, you win some, you lose some and it's tough for you lose. I've gone through it with my team, but I won't curse anybody or try to put them down when it comes to race or anything. We are all going to be upset when you miss a penalty, but when it gets to race then, it's going to be a problem you understand," the 11 world championship gold medallist added.
    It (racial abuse) was very unfair and I can't believe this is where football is headed, I've loved football through my entire career, I've followed all these players and I've always for them, so it tough to see something like that going on," the Jamaican added.
    The English Football Association in a statement said it was "appalled" by the abuse of the three players.
    "We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible," the FA statement said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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