‘We love you’ – English football fans defend Rashford after racist exploitation

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – English football fans set out to defend striker Marcus Rashford on Tuesday by covering up a racist abuse recorded on his mural for a black player in his hometown with love and support messages to a hero they said was a citizen. role model.

Black players Rashford (23), Jadon Sancho (21) and Bukayo Saka (19) were racially abusive when they lost their penalties by shooting with Italy, which finally survived on Sundays.

Fans covered up the racist abuse that had been recorded in the mural in Rashford, Manchester, Withington, with hundreds of small support messages.

We love you !, read one of the posts. One pink heart was attached to the mural with the simple word: Hero.

You have defended us repeatedly, now is the time for us to defend you! read another. Rashford sent photos of the children’s letters saying they were proud of him.

Born in Manchester and raised by a single mother in the Wythenshawe area of ​​the city, Rashford has used her hunger experiences as a child to improve campaigns to give children free food.

My punishment wasn’t good enough, it should have gone in, but I never apologize for who I am and where I came from, Rashford said in a statement.

Seeing the answer in Withington, I was on the verge of tears. The communities that have always wrapped me up still hold me. Im Marcus Rashford, 23, a black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else, I have it.