The Conversation (0)
Politics
Sinead Butler
Jul 12, 2021
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 r… https://t.co/8J3BruMz9h— Priti Patel (@Priti Patel) 1626074088
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.
This you? https://t.co/kSqNV10T16 https://t.co/BTJpOX9SRq— Richard Buxton (@Richard Buxton) 1626076876
@pritipatel @England Maybe next time don’t say it’s cool for people to boo people attempting to challenge racism or… https://t.co/eM4reuzkyO— James Felton (@James Felton) 1626076781
@pritipatel @England Take the knee— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@ALASTAIR CAMPBELL) 1626074152
@pritipatel @England You played your part, stoking the flames when they were taking a knee. You’re a disgrace to British Asians.— Rahul Kohli (@Rahul Kohli) 1626079500
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 Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1626078289
Surely there can’t be a single person who thinks any of these words mean anything coming from your mouth. Do us all… https://t.co/wCCjVg4L3R— James Brittain-McVey (@James Brittain-McVey) 1626079643
When you told fans that it’s ok to boo England players taking the knee, you blew the dog whistle. The dogs came. An… https://t.co/gmZTwT7HyN— Prof Tanja Bueltmann (@Prof Tanja Bueltmann) 1626077939
This is rich coming from you tbh this is the environment that *you* fostered. https://t.co/QPBmD4S7uv— Ash (@Ash) 1626077494
When you say it’s fine to boo players taking a stance against racism, when your policies pander to racists and inci… https://t.co/Vq4QETnTiA— David Schneider (@David Schneider) 1626075469
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✊🏾💙 (@Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙) 1626079568
Good. Better late than never. Now apologise for encouraging fans to boo our players for taking the knee. https://t.co/6jNIvyxti1— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1626078180
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 player… https://t.co/V3T3fkVNRJ— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1626077646
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 (@Dom Joly) 1626079878
THIS IS WHY THEY TAKE THE KNEE. https://t.co/uKf1rWYkDq— Hannah Al-Othman (@Hannah Al-Othman) 1626077860
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 (@Zing Tsjeng) 1626078847
This is so interesting because the whole premise of players “taking the knee” was to send just this message. An act… https://t.co/2KeHWm07lG— Richie Brave (@Richie Brave) 1626083768
If only there was some kind of unified gesture we could all back that shows that we take racism seriously https://t.co/FQIJ0Mqseu— Robyn (@Robyn) 1626082946
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. Those responsible for this… https://t.co/W0BqsKrTSD— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson) 1626069734
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." Former footballer @GNev2 says has called on Boris Johnson to take a tougher stance on… https://t.co/Rtbn6Tsqxm— Sky News (@Sky News) 1626078093