Susanna Reid broke down in tears on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday while reading a letter a nine-year-old child had written to his idol Marcus Rashford.
The presenter slammed the ‘hideous’ racist abuse the Manchester United star and his England teammates have suffered after their penalty misses during the Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.
Meanwhile, her GMB co-star Andi Peters told how ‘change will come’ as he shared his thoughts on the horrendous racial abuse that players Marcus, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka.
It comes as Rashford shared other letters sent to him by children who hailed him their ‘hero’ and as fans covered a mural to the footballer with notes of support.
Susanna became emotional as she read out the letter from Dexter Rosier – a Tottenham fan from Reading. In scrawled handwriting the child called Marcus and his teammates ‘heroes’ and told how he felt ‘inspired’ to help those less fortunate.
It added: ‘I hope you won’t be sad for too long because you are such a good person.
‘Last year you inspired me to help people less fortunate. Then last night you inspired me again, to always be brave. I’m proud of you. You will always be a hero.’
Emotional: Susanna Reid broke down in tears on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday while reading a letter a child had written to his Manchester United star Marcus Rashford
It comes as Rashford shared other letters sent to him by children who hailed him their ‘hero’ and as fans covered a mural to the footballer with notes of support
Touching: Susanna became emotional as she read out the letter from a nine-year-old boy who hailed Marcus and his teammates ‘heroes’ and told how he felt ‘inspired’ to help those less fortunate
Overcome with emotion, Susanna struggled to hold back the tears as she said: ‘I hope Marcus feels everything that’s coming through from this letter and all the messages of support.’
As the presenter’s eyes welled up, her co-star Ranvir Singh also sat with tears flowing down her cheeks.
Turning to her colleague, Susanna said: ‘Ranvir, I mean honestly. It’s hideous.’
Pointing at the letter, Ranvir said: ‘That’s England. It goes to the heart of what we want for our children.
‘My son is talking about the racism he’s faced at school, he’s going to be nine soon.’
Gutted: She slammed the ‘hideous’ racist abuse he (pictured) and his teammates have suffered after their penalty misses during the England Vs Italy game on Sunday
Tears: Overcome with emotion, Susanna struggled to hold back the tears as she said: ‘I hope Marcus feels everything that’s coming through from this letter and all the messages of support’
Emotional: As the presenter cried, her co-star Ranvir Singh also sat with tears flowing down her cheeks
It comes after the three England players to miss penalties in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final were spammed with hideous racist abuse online.
Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka’s social media accounts were flooded with monkey emojis and racist abuse following England’s defeat to Italy.
In response Rashford penned a letter which he shared online saying he ‘had a difficult season’ but ‘I will never apologise for who I am or where I came from’.
Underneath he attached letters sent to him by children, including Dexter’s, as he was told by an 11-year-old boy to be ‘proud’.
It added: ‘You may have missed your penalty but you had a brilliant tournament. I admire you and so should the rest of the world.’
Marcus Rashford today said he was ‘close to tears’ after well-wishers covered graffiti sprayed on his Manchester mural with notes of support in the wake of his Euro 2020 penalty heartache
A local resident puts love hearts and slogans on the plastic that covers offensive graffiti on the vandalised mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford
Another letter from a young fan advised Rashford to ‘just keep thinking happy thoughts’.
Meanwhile, Rashford yesterday said he was left ‘close to tears’ after well-wishers covered graffiti sprayed on his Manchester mural with loving notes.
The England star, 23, penned an emotional open letter to England fans apologising for his penalty shoot-out miss.
The striker, who was left visibly distraught after his penalty hit the post, also paid tribute to his supportive teammates and vowed to ‘come back stronger’ after yesterday’s heartbreaking finale to Euro 2020.
But the star – who last night faced a barrage of racist abuse from vile online trolls in the wake of the defeat – reserved a special thank you for those who had stepped in to restore his mural on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe in his home town of Withington.
The painted image was last night defaced, in what is being investigated by police as a possible ‘hate crime’, with derogatory comments about Rashford and included the words ‘sh**e’ and ‘b*****d’. Further graffiti said ‘f**k Sancho’ – a reference to his Three Lions teammate.
Rashford tweeted letters sent to him by children, including Dexter’s, as he was told by an 11-year-old boy to be ‘proud’
However Rashford fans quickly rushed to the site to hide the abusive messages, before placing hearts over the covering.
Speaking about their support in an open letter posted on his Twitter account, the star said: ‘The messages I have received have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears.
‘The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up. I’m a 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else, I have that.’
Earlier in the open letter he apologised for his penalty miss against Italy, saying ‘I felt as though I’d let everyone down’.
‘It’s been playing over in my head over and over since and there’s probably not a word to quite describe how it feels,’ he said. ‘Final. 55-years. 1 penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had gone differently.’
The striker also praised his teammates, saying it was the ‘best camp I’ve experienced’ and adding that an ‘unbreakable brotherhood’ had been formed.
He also tackled the abuse he had faced, saying he would ‘never apologise’ for being himself, before ending on a positive note by vowing to bounce back from the heartache, saying: ‘For all the kind messages, thank you. I’ll be back stronger. We’ll be back stronger.’
Greater Manchester Police called the defacing of the Rashford mural a ‘racially aggravated’ act of vandalism.
Manchester residents are redecorating a mural honouring England footballer Marcus Rashford with hearts and messages calling the player a ‘hero’ and a ‘role model’
Ed Wellard, from Withington, tapes bin liners across offensive wording on the mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe in Withington
In a statement, GMP slammed the ‘racially aggravated’ and ‘disgraceful’ damage, adding: ‘Hate crime in any form is completely unacceptable and not welcome here in our city.’ The force was alerted at around 2.50am this morning. No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing.
Chief Superintendent Paul Savill said: ‘This is disgraceful behaviour and will absolutely not be tolerated. Greater Manchester prides itself on being made up from a number of diverse communities, and hate crime in any form is completely unacceptable and not welcome here in our city.
‘GMP takes crimes of this nature very seriously and an investigation has been launched. If anyone has any information that could help us to identify this offender please do not hesitate to speak to police.’
The artwork was created by Akse, a French-born graffiti artist, in November 2020. A painting of Rashford appears alongside the phrase: ‘Take pride in knowing that your struggle will play the biggest role in your purpose’.
The Football Association has condemned the ‘disgusting behaviour’ of a small number of mindless social media users who aimed abuse at players in the wake of England’s loss to the Italians.
England manager Gareth Southgate described abuse of Rashford, Sancho and Saka as ‘unforgivable’ after they were targeted by racists. He spoke out after Prince William and Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounced the racist abuse.
A mural honouring England star Marcus Rashford was vandalised less than an hour after last night’s Euro 2020 final defeat
Further graffiti said ‘f**k Sancho’ – a reference to Rashford’s Three Lions teammate Jadon Sancho, who also missed a penalty in the biggest game for England since the 1966 World Cup
Rashford reacts after hitting the post in their team’s third penalty in a penalty shoot-out
Southgate left little doubt of his feelings towards so-called supporters who had fired racist remarks at his team. He said: ‘It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.
‘We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together. It’s my decision who takes the penalties, it’s not a case of players not volunteering or more experienced players backing out.’
The Duke of Cambridge said he was ‘sickened’ by the racist abuse and called vile slurs at players ‘totally unacceptable’.
William, who was at the game with his wife Kate Middleton and their seven-year-old son Prince George, called for those behind the messages to be punished.
In a statement, the duke said: ‘I am sickened by the racist abuse aimed at England players after last night’s match. It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour. It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable.’
It came as Savills estate agent launched an investigation after claims a member of staff had been behind one of the messages. A spokesperson said: ‘Savills abhors and has zero tolerance to any form of racism and racial discrimination and is appalled by the racist comments in these tweets.
‘Savills is immediately investigating and will take appropriate action.’
Mr Johnson echoed the Football Association’s condemnation of those attacking the players after the team lost to Italy. He said: ‘This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media. Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.
Wording on the vandalised mural of Manchester United striker and England player Marcus Rashford
The mural on the wall of the Coffee House Cafe in Withington, south Manchester, was defaced with derogatory comments about Rashford including the words ‘sh**e’ and ‘b*****d’
Estate agents Savills said it was investigating if a member of staff posted a vile tweet aimed at the England players
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they will be investigating the abuse
Another user wrote, ‘Foreigners are stupid,’ seemingly choosing to ignore that Saka was born in Ealing, west London
Home Secretary Priti Patel also headed up figures slamming the racists.
She said: ‘Players who have given so much for our country this summer 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.’
It came as police began hunting the racists behind some of the vile social media posts.
The horrific comments, including the use of monkey emojis and racist language such as n****r , have led to the FA condemning its racist fans and saying they are not ‘welcome in following in the team’ and the Metropolitan Police has confirmed its officers will be investigating.
While thousands rallied to support the players, especially Saka, who lit up the tournament for England at the age of just 19.
Calling on those behind the abuse to face arrest and prosecution, one fan said: ‘I’ll take these three Englishmen over any racist-moron-fake-fan every day of the week and twice on a Sunday’.
Another wrote: ‘I stand with Rashford. I stand with Sancho. I stand with Saka. I stand with a whole team of brilliant men who made us all proud & represent the best this country has to offer I reject everything about the Racists & Shape Shifters who represent the worst’.
Racist social media users instantly took to the accounts of the three black players who missed penalties in last night’s clash against Italy.
The players’ Instagram and Twitter feeds were subjected to a barrage of racist imagery including monkey and banana emojis, as well as written comments packed with horrifying slurs.
One user wrote under the latest Instagram picture of Saka, 19: ‘Go back to Nigeria.’ While another said: ‘Get out my country.’ And another wrote: ‘Take banana n****r.’ And another, seemingly in support of the Italians, said: ‘It’s coming Rome!!! F****** n****r.’ Another user wrote, ‘Foreigners are stupid,’ seemingly choosing to ignore that Saka was born in Ealing, west London.
In response to the deluge of racist comments and FA spokesman made it clear that racists are not wanted in football.
A spokesman said: ‘The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media’
Nineteen-year-old Bukayo Saka is inconsolable after failing to score his penalty kick and handing victory to the Italians
Nineteen-year-old Saka was consoled by Gareth Southgate as penalties came back to haunt the manager who missed his spot kick as a player at the semi-finals of Euro 1996
A spokesman said: ‘The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.
‘We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real life consequences.
‘Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.’
And the Metropolitan Police confirmed they will be investigating the abuse and said: ‘We are aware of a number of offensive and racist social media comments being directed towards footballers following the #Euro2020 final.
‘This abuse is totally unacceptable, it will not be tolerated and it will be investigated.’
England players have taken the knee to support anti-racism drives throughout the tournament, a move that has drawn vocal criticism and boos from a section of their support.
In turn the FA and senior players have attacked the boo-boys in the stands, stating their actions are precisely why the team feels a need to make a stand against racism. England lost the penalty shootout 3-2 after the match finished 1-1 after extra time.