Boris Johnson will urge social media bosses to crack down on “disgraceful” racist abuse following online attacks of the England squad.
The Prime Minister said racist abuse of footballers in the wake of Sunday night’s Euro 2020 final needs to be “stamped out”.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka received an onslaught of racial abuse on social media after missing their penalties at Sunday night’s Euro 2020 final.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said he would meet social media reps in Downing Street on Tuesday, adding: “The Prime Minister opened Cabinet by repeating his condemnation of the racist abuse aimed at some of the England team following Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
"He said the abuse was utterly disgraceful and had emerged from the dark spaces of the internet.
“He said he would use today’s meeting with social media firms to reiterate the urgent need for action ahead of tougher laws coming into force through the online harms bill.
"He added there is no question this kind of abuse is extremely upsetting, unfair and needs to be stamped out."
It also comes amid a row surrounding comments the Home Secretary Priti Patel made about the team’s decision to take the knee.
Ms Patel labelled the act “gesture politics” and said it was up to fans whether they booed players who make the gesture.
She then said she was “disgusted” when England players Saka, Rashford and Sancho were racially abused on social media after missing their penalties.
It led to England defender Tyrone Mings hitting back: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”
On Tuesday, senior minister Steve Barclay spoke in Ms Patel’s defence, saying: “The Home Secretary herself has been the victim of the most appalling online abuse, she understands better than most the consequences of racism.”
