Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan has blasted the ‘racist yobs and thugs’ racially abusing Marcus Rashford on social media - and has called for them to be issued £100,000 fines.
The outspoken TV host called those giving the abuse ‘absolutely disgusting’ and launched a campaign to dish out massive fines for those taking part in such behaviour.
Piers referenced a new law that has come into effect in Australia, where he says people issuing the most serious racist abuse would face fines of ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars’.
“It’s time we did that here,” he said.
“I think we should launch a campaign, I’m launching it right now, that if you spew racist abuse at anybody on social media, because social media companies have absolved themselves of any responsibility for this.
“When we catch these people, take them to court and fine them £100,000 each time there is vile racist abuse."
It comes after Marcus Rashford was the victim of horrific online abuse in the wake of United's 0-0 draw at Arsenal on Saturday night, which he described in a statement as "humanity and social media at its worst".
Greater Manchester Police have since said they are aware of the incidents and are investigating to find the culprits and have offered support to the United players.
Chelsea defender Reece James, West Brom's Romaine Sawyers and United duo Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial have also been targeted this week by racist abuse online.
Piers, 55, also took aim at social media companies for letting abusers hide behind anonymous accounts.
He added: “I’ve said for a long time, social media should have an obligation. You have to give your real name, your real picture and your workplace so we all know who each other is.
“So your employer can take a view of what you’re doing.
“These racist yobs, thugs, criminals I would imagine in some cases - we’ve got to start finding out who they are.”
The presenter said that by ‘taking them to the cleaners financially’, the hate crimes would stop ‘in a month’.
“Let me tell you - it stops in a month. You start handing out £100,000 fines to these people as in Australia, it stops," he said.
“We’ve got to do this. Why should these footballers be subjected to this kind of abuse?
“It is absolutely disgusting and we have to find the people doing it and we have to hold them properly to account where it will really hurt them.
“It hurts them by fining them enough money they’ll never want to do it again.”
Co-host Susanna Reid said she was in complete agreement with Piers, adding that she thought the abuse was ‘totally disgusting’.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like to come off the pitch and to go on social media to reflect with fans on the experience of the game, but they know they’re going to get it,” she said.
“It’s absolutely sickening and totally disgusting and actually criminal.”
Marcus Rashford, 22, said he was sent the racist abuse on Instagram, but refused to share screenshots as it would be ‘irresponsible’.
In a statement on Twitter, he said "I'm a black man and I live every day proud that I am.
"No-one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you're just simply not going to get it here.
"I'm not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there's nothing original in them.
"I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don't need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated."
GMB is broadcast every weekday on ITV from 6am.
