Hundreds of football fans have gathered at a mural of English footballer Marcus Rashford and taken the knee in protest at the racist abuse black English players suffered after their Euro 2020 final loss to Italy. It was England's first final in 55 years.
After the penalty shoot-out in which England lost and three black players all missed penalties, the players were subjected to a huge amount of racist abuse online. A mural in Manchester of England player Marcus Rashford, who missed one of the penalties, was also graffitied with racial abuse.
In response to the graffiti, hundreds of local residents came out and covered up the graffiti with England flags and messages of support for Rashford and the other penalty takers. The graffiti was later removed by the original artist who painted over it.
At one point, the crowd was 700 people strong.
After the penalty miss, Rashford released a statement saying:
"I don't even know where to start and I don't even know how to put into words how I am 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. I've always backed myself for a penalty, but something didn't feel quite right.
During the long run-up I was saving myself a bit of time and unfortunately the result was not what I wanted. I felt as though I had let my team-mates 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 of gone differently.
Whilst I continue to say sorry I want to shout out my team-mates. This summer has been one of the best camps I've experienced and you've all played a role in that.
A brotherhood has been built that is unbreakable. Your success is my success. Your failures are mine.
I've grown into a sport where I expected to read things written about myself.
Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch.
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. 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 tens of thousands.
I dreamt of days like this. The messages I've received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.
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."
[h/t: BBC]
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