Prince William has become the latest figure to speak out on the racist abuse sent to England trio Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford following last night's Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
After the trio all missed their respective penalties in the Three Lions' heartbreaking 3-2 shoot-out defeat to Italy, they were the victims of racial abuse online.
Rashford, stepping up to take England's third penalty after Harry Kane and Harry Maguire dispatched the first two spot-kicks, struck the post, before both Sancho and Saka were denied by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Whilst England's players raced to the penalty area to console the visibly distraught Saka, who was denied the chance to take the shoot-out to sudden death, he, alongside Rashford and Saka, became the latest victims of horrific online abuse.
Now, Prince William, who attended last night's match alongside wife Kate and son George, has taken to Twitter to release a statement to condemn the actions of those responsible.
He said: "I am sickened by the racist abuse aimed at England players after last night's match.
"It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour.
"It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable."
Following last night's match, the FA also released a statement to condemn the actions of those behind the sickening abusive messages.
They said: "We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team.
"We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.
"We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences.
"Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse."
