People have accused Patel of being a hypocrite after condemning racist abuse but previously said fans could boo England players for taking the knee
(Picture: Getty Images)Home Secretary, Priti Patel has been accused of hypocrisy for condemning the racist abuse of England players after their Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy.
In a tweet to her followers, Patel described how she felt “disgusted” at the fact that some of the players have been “subject to vile racist abuse on social media.”
“It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable,” she added.
I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) July 12, 2021
It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.
But many have pointed out that her stance reeks of hypocrisy, after previously saying that fans have a right to boo the England team for the “gesture politics” of taking the knee in protest against racial inequality.
“That’s a choice for them [fans] quite frankly,” she told broadcaster GB News just last month.
She added: “I just don’t support people participating in that type of gesture politics.”
While she declined to answer whether she would boo the England team herself, saying:
“I’ve not gone to a football match to even contemplate that.”
Plenty of people were quick to respond to Patel’s tweet with this comment.
I’ve been keeping the receipts pic.twitter.com/avnxTa3cFC
— Nic Keaney (@NicKeaney) July 12, 2021
This you? https://t.co/kSqNV10T16 pic.twitter.com/BTJpOX9SRq
— Richard Buxton (@RichardBuxton_) July 12, 2021
Maybe next time don’t say it’s cool for people to boo people attempting to challenge racism or they might get the message that racism is fine
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) July 12, 2021
Take the knee
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) July 12, 2021
You played your part, stoking the flames when they were taking a knee. You’re a disgrace to British Asians.
— Rahul Kohli (@RahulKohli13) July 12, 2021
You lied about why our players take the knee and defended the racists who booed them. Give your head a wobble. https://t.co/3YvxMIeoFX
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) July 12, 2021
Surely there can’t be a single person who thinks any of these words mean anything coming from your mouth. Do us all a favour and not bother next time. https://t.co/wVE0cgwWjS
— James McVey (@TheVampsJames) July 12, 2021
It’s like they think we can’t remember anything.
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) July 12, 2021
When you refuse to condemn booing of player’s taking a knee in a stand against racist abuse, you condone the booing of player’s taking a knee in a stand against racist abuse.
Try making yourself accountable for that. https://t.co/qciPPvT025
When you told fans that it’s ok to boo England players taking the knee, you blew the dog whistle. The dogs came. And you had basically given them a license. So you really don’t get to speak of disgust now. https://t.co/QG4SGCEt32
— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@TanjaBueltmann) July 12, 2021
This is rich coming from you tbh this is the environment that *you* fostered. https://t.co/QPBmD4S7uv
— Ash (@ashindestad) July 12, 2021
When you say it’s fine to boo players taking a stance against racism, when your policies pander to racists and incite race hate, you are very much part of the problem. https://t.co/Xl3Won7q9r
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) July 12, 2021
Labour MPs Dawn Butler and David Lammy also criticised Patel and asked why she encouraged fans to boo the players for taking the knee if she is appalled with the abuse they’re receiving.
Lammy has also called for Patel to apologise for encouraging fans to boo the Three Lions for taking the knee.
If you believe this why do you encourage it in almost everything you say and do. https://t.co/5c74YH1vzg
— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) July 12, 2021
Good. Better late than never. Now apologise for encouraging fans to boo our players for taking the knee. https://t.co/6jNIvyxti1
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) July 12, 2021
Deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner didn’t mince her words when comparing Boris Johnson and Priti Patel to “arsonists complaining about a fire they poured petrol on.”
Let me be clear. The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary gave license to the racists who booed the England players and are now racially abusing England players.@BorisJohnson and @pritipatel are like arsonists complaining about a fire they poured petrol on. Total hypocrites.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) July 12, 2021
While others highlighted to Patel that the torrent of racist abuse the players have received is one of the reasons why the squad take the knee in the first place.
Yeah, they should protest about it in some way…any ideas? https://t.co/sX3YL0o0zU
— Dom Joly (@domjoly) July 12, 2021
THIS IS WHY THEY TAKE THE KNEE. https://t.co/uKf1rWYkDq
— Rashford, Saka, and Sancho stan account (@HannahAlOthman) July 12, 2021
If only there was a widely recognised symbolic gesture that people could do to show they were against racism https://t.co/2W0TC5tePd
— Zing Tsjeng (@misszing) July 12, 2021
This is so interesting because the whole premise of players “taking the knee” was to send just this message. An act you said fans had a right to boo. You can’t light a house on fire then cry when people get burned. This is looks very insincere. https://t.co/VNRV951fJK
— Richie (@RichieBrave) July 12, 2021
If only there was some kind of unified gesture we could all back that shows that we take racism seriously https://t.co/FQIJ0Mqseu
— Rob (@roalsovi) July 12, 2021
Elsewhere, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also condemned the racist abused by so-called “fans” on Twitter.
He described the abuse as “appalling” and said those responsible “should be ashamed of themselves.”
This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 12, 2021
Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.
Former Manchester United and England player, Gary Neville has called on Boris Johnson to take a tougher stance against racist abuse within football.
“The prime minster said it was ok for the population of this country to boos those players who are trying to promote equality and defend against racism.
“It starts at the very top.”
"It starts at the very top."
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 12, 2021
Former footballer @GNev2 says has called on Boris Johnson to take a tougher stance on racism in football after some England players received abuse online following last night's clash with Italy.#Euro2020: https://t.co/KUBv2VLGWI pic.twitter.com/VoJPtslaaP
