A Savills employee accused of tweeting racial abuse following England’s Euro 2020 final defeat has been suspended by the estate agency but says his account was hacked.
The man behind the Twitter account responsible for comments aimed at Three Lions stars Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka has been named as Andrew Bone.
The account posted a tweet saying “N****** ruined it for us” after the trio missed penalties in England’s shoot-out loss to Italy on Sunday.
Estate agent Savills, who Mr Bone’s Linkedin page says he is employed by, launched an investigation into the tweets. Savills later confirmed a staff member had been suspended.
The company said: “Savills confirms that the staff member connected with the racist comments placed on Twitter claims that his account was taken over by a third party and that the matter is being referred to the Greater Manchester Police.
“Savills has acted swiftly and confirms that the individual is suspended from duty pending the findings of this investigation, which is being progressed as a priority.
“Savills has a zero tolerance policy on any form of racial abuse or discrimination.”
The same Twitter account, which has since been deleted, followed up with another tweet believed to be in response to the furious reaction from fellow social media users.
It said: “Omg, I haven’t said anything.”
According to LinkedIn, Mr Bone has been working as a commercial building manager at Savills Estate Agents since April 2021.
The tweets are part of a wider slew of racist abuse targeted at black England players following the Euro 2020 defeat.
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate branded the abuse “unforgivable” in a press conference on Monday.
He said: “For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really.
“I know some of that has come from abroad, people who track these things are able to explain that, but not all of it.
“It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.
“We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together.”
Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up & take a pen when the stakes were high. They deserve support & backing not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night. If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an @England fan and we don’t want you. pic.twitter.com/PgskPAXgxV
— Harry Kane (@HKane) July 12, 2021
Meanwhile, the England captain Harry Kane told racist fans they are not wanted.
He wrote on Twitter: “You’re not England fans and we don’t want you.”
A mural to the England striker Marcus Rashford in Manchester was covered in offensive graffiti following Sunday’s loss but has since attracted notes praising the footballer and social justice campaigner.
