Racism in football: Bukayo Saka - 'Love always wins'

Bukayo Saka has said: "Love always wins".

It comes after he, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were targeted with racial abuse following England's loss at the Euro 2020 final.

Saka has made a social media post thanking fans for their support, highlighting his views on the abuse, and calling for social media companies to do more to protect children and adults from "hateful and hurtful messages".

England manager Gareth Southgate and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have both spoken out and condemned the abuse also, although fellow England player Tyrone Mings has accused government minister Priti Patel of failing to support the players enough when some fans booed their decision to take the knee before games.

Ms Patel hasn't commented on what Tyrone Mings said, but the government said the home secretary was "working every day to clamp down on hate crime, racism and violence".

'I'm so thankful'

Saka said he was grateful for "all the love that I have received" and wanted to thank fans for their support.

He continued to say it was an honour to be part of the England squad, and to help the team reach their first Euros final in 55 years.

Speaking about his missed penalty Saka said: "I really believed we would win this for you. I'm sorry that we couldn't bring it home for you this year, but I promise you that we will give everything we've got to make sure this generation knows how it feels to win."

But he continued: "I will not let that moment or the negativity that I've received this week break me."

"For those who have campaigned on my behalf and sent me heartfelt letters, wished me and my family well - I'm so thankful. This is what football should be about. Passion, people of all races, genders, religions and backgrounds coming together with one shared joy of the rollercoaster of football."

'To the social media platforms'

Saka also included a message aimed at the social media companies in his statement.

Calling out Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Saka said: "I don't want any child or adult to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that me, Marcus and Jadon have received this week."

"I knew instantly the kind of hate that I was about to receive and that is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages." he continued.

"There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of society and to the majority of people coming together to call out the people sending these messages, by taking action and reporting these comments to the police and by driving out the hate by being kind to one another" he said.

'I am proud of this England team'

Jadon Sancho also shared a statement on social media this week, he said that sadly, the abuse he and his teammates have been receiving is nothing new: "To all the young people who have received similar abuse, hold your heads up high and keep chasing the dream, I am proud of this England team.

"I want to say a massive thank you for all the positive messages and love and support that far outweighed the negative.

"It's been an honour as always representing England and wearing the Three Lions shirt, and I have no doubt we'll be back even stronger."

Jadon Sancho (left) being comforted by manager Gareth Southgate after (right) penalty miss

When addressing the missed penalty at the Euro 2020 final, Sancho said he was sorry if he had let anyone down.

He said: "This is by far the worst feeling I've felt in my career, there were so many positives to take away from this tournament though the defeat will hurt for a long time.

These are the pressured situations you want to be under as a footballer. I've scored penalties before, at club level, I've practised them countless times for both club and country so I picked my corner but it just wasn't meant to be this time."

Marcus Rashford has also said sorry for missing his penalty but added he would never apologise for who he is, or where he is from.

Rashford also suffered abuse online and a mural in his home town of Withington in Manchester was vandalised with racist comments.

But he said he was really touched by people covering the abuse with messages of support.

Boris Johnson says he will ban anyone found guilty of sending racist messages to footballers from going to matches and Gareth Southgate has called the abuse "unforgivable."