By Ben Kerrigan-
Football banning orders will be adjusted to cover online racism in the wake of the social media abuse directed at England players, Boris Johnson has told MPs.
Gareth Southgate said the racist abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Kaya
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The prime minister said the government is “taking practical steps to ensure that the football banning order regime is changed”.
“So that if you are guilty of racist abuse online of footballers then you will not be going to the match. No ifs, no buts. No exemptions and no excuses,” he told the Commons.
“I repeat that I utterly condemn and abhor the racist outpourings that we saw on Sunday night,” Mr Johnson said, referencing the racist abuse on social media directed at England stars Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka.
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The trio missed their spot kicks in England’s penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley on Sunday.
The PM’s commitment follows on from Labour calling for football banning orders to be extended to cover online abuse.
The PM said he “made it absolutely clear to them that we will legislate to address this problem in the Online Harms Bill”, warning: “Unless they get hate and racism off their platforms they will face fines amounting to 10% of their global revenues.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer challenged Mr Johnson on the issue as the pair clashed at Prime Minister’s Questions.
He said the PM “can’t have it both ways”, pointing out that Mr Johnson at one stage failed to criticize supporters who jeered England players taking the knee to protest against racial injustice.
Responding to Sir Keir asking if he regretted this, Mr Johnson replied: “We made it absolutely clear that no one should boo the England team.”
Asked about the matter on 7 June, the PM’s spokesman told reporters that England fans should “get behind” the Three Lions.
“The prime minister supports individuals’ rights to protest,” the spokesman said, adding: “On taking the knee, specifically, the prime minister is more focused on action rather than gestures.”
The Labour leader raised Priti Patel’s description of taking the knee as “gesture politics” – and England defender Tyrone Mings accusing the home secretary of having “stoked the fire”, asking: “He’s right, isn’t he?”
“I want to reiterate my support, our support, our total support for our fantastic team and I support them in the way that they show solidarity with their friends who face racism,” the PM responded.
“The home secretary has faced racism and prejudice all her career of a kind that he can never imagine, and she has taken practical steps to get black and minority officers into the police in record numbers.”
Sir Keir accused Mr Johnson of “trying to stoke a culture war” on the issue before tournament and said ministers were now backtracking now that they have “realised they’re on the wrong side”.
He said: “Why else would a Conservative MP boast that he’s not watching his own team? Why else would another Conservative MP say that Marcus Rashford spends too much time playing politics when he’s actually trying to feed children that the government won’t? And why will the prime minister refuse time and time again – even now – to condemn those who boo our players for standing up against racism?
“What is it that this England team symbolizes that this Conservative Party is so afraid of?”
The PM said he does not “want to engage in a political culture war of any kind, I want to get on with delivering for the people of this country”.
Mr Johnson said Commons is “united” in admiration for the team, adding: “We stick up for them and what we’re doing is taking practical steps to fight racism – changing the football banning regime, fining the online companies, and we will use more legislation if we have to – just as we used the threat of legislation to stop the European Super League.”
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Kaya suffered racial abuse after missing their penalties on Sunday in the finals of Euro 2021. They were included in the match towards the end of the game.
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