Opinion: Why anti-Black racist abuse directed towards Rashford, Saka and Sancho should come as no surprise

Social media feeds are awash with anti-Black racist abuse targeting those England players whose penalties didn’t land during the Euro 2020 Final on Sunday: Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho.

Boris Johnson, of course, released a statement condemning the “appalling” abuse, calling it “disgusting behaviour” and saying those behind it “should be ashamed of themselves”.

According to Priti Patel, such “vile” abuse “has no place in our country”. She will “back the police to hold those responsible accountable”. Johnson and Patel have already been called “total hypocrites”.

Rio Ferdinand is surprised – he calls it “crazy” – that Black players would be subjected to “toxic and racist” insults from “ignorant and cowardly rats”. He wants social media companies to help craft safer online spaces.

But the electorate does not want to condemn racist abuse – it voted not to. It does, in fact, have a place in our country. That place is in the upper echelons, as voted for by us.

There is no point in recounting Boris Johnson’s track record when it comes to racism (or sexism and homophobia). Nor is there any point detailing Patel’s voting record on asylum, gay rights or immigration.

These are the individuals to whom the electorate have given the green light, whose language and behaviour and conduct we have approved. Not only is there a “place in our country” for toxic racism, that place is right at the top.

It is not only a matter of Tory racism going unpunished when, say, a Conservative councillor decries the fact that there are “too many P***s in this town”, or calls a fellow councillor a “c***k”; in 2017 an actual Tory member of parliament had to “apologise unreservedly” for using the actual N-word.

Top-down punishment is one thing; being voted in by the public is another. That some England fans became toxically racist towards Black players immediately after they failed to land penalties should come as no surprise because we – as a nation, as an electorate – have set the following precedent: typically, using racist language does not to lead to consequences in England. It does not even preclude accession to the highest office in the country.

If you can still become prime minister after calling Black people “piccaninnies” with “watermelon smiles”, etc., etc., etc., etc., then of course social media users are going to believe that they can get away with being racist and abusive without facing any consequences.