Andrew Rosindell
(Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)A Conservative MP has triggered a backlash after suggesting that England footballer Tyrone Mings should focus on “football not politics”.
Mings criticised home secretary Priti Patel for “stoking the fire” of racism by previously calling taking the knee “gesture politics” and then condemning racist abuse directed against black English footballers following the Euro 2020 final.
Writing on Twitter, Andrew Rosindell responded to the comments and appeared to imply that Mings should not have criticised Patel, despite England being a democracy in which everyone is allowed to express their opinions about politics, regardless of their job.
We are all proud of our England team, who have had the support of the whole country over recent weeks, but please focus of football, not politics. If you win for England, you win for everyone! 🏴🇬🇧 https://t.co/kZVM5Y2Z1Z
— Andrew Rosindell MP (@AndrewRosindell) July 13, 2021
Writing on Twitter, people expressed this very sentiment:
So politicians can talk about football (particularly when they think they might bag a vote or two), but footballers shouldn’t talk about politics. Freedom of speech for all…except for those pesky footballers who should know their place. https://t.co/PNek9qiesw
— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2021
MP tells voter not to focus on politics. You’re in the wrong job mate. Resign. https://t.co/V8x5Po6358
— Adil Rashford Saka Sancho 💙 (@adilray) July 13, 2021
In a democracy perhaps we should be encouraging more people to get involved in politics rather than treating as an exclusive club to exclude people from? https://t.co/lb7Zgg9xYg
— Mark Pack 🔶 (@markpack) July 13, 2021
How dare you tell someone you work for you what they can or cannot comment on!
— Reece Dinsdale 💙 (@reece_dinsdale) July 14, 2021
Politics is for EVERYONE.
Pity your party doesn’t CARE for everyone. https://t.co/QdRTjyzhQ1
As a British citizen, Tyrone has a right to talk about issues that impact him and others whenever he likes. It's he's country.
— Anton 🏴🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@AntacsB) July 13, 2021
He can say what he damn well likes.
— Emma Kennedy💙 (@EmmaKennedy) July 13, 2021
Andrew, is your policy:
— Andy McCabe💙 (@McCMugwump) July 13, 2021
'I need you! (electorate) to win in Politics.
And if I win in Politics, I win. Me. Not you!'
Maybe you should not share your opinions on the England team's performance Andrew, if they're not allowed to share their opinions on politics?
— Hannah Al-Othman (@HannahAlOthman) July 13, 2021
Footballers including Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho became victims of racism following the Euro final in which they missed penalties during the tense shootout.
Since then, politicians have taken a stand with Conservatives such as Steve Baker and Johnny Mercer suggesting Tories need to change their tone to stop stoking culture wars while social media companies have committed to stamping out hate online – with mixed success.
But it appears Rosindell has not go this memo yet.
A spokesperson for the MP said:
“Andrew doesn’t support England players taking the knee as he views it as a symbol of a Marxist organisation, not as an anti-racist symbol.
“Andrew was pushing back at Mr Mings’ suggestion that the Home Secretary had contributed to the racist abuse when she clearly condemned racism and when she receives such an avalanche of racist abuse herself.”
