Dan Wootton: Anonymous postings on social media should not be allowed

It’s so shocking to me how quickly the craven England-hating liberal left used last night’s defeat to round on the country as a whole.

I absolutely deplore all forms of violence and racism.

Those responsible for both disgusting actions should be dealt with by the full force of the law.

But we must now allow this tiny number of folk to overshadow what has been a magnificently unifying Euros tournament, largely thanks to Gareth Southgate’s young Three Lions squad who brought respect back to football in England.

Sadly, that’s immediately what some division stoking celebs chose to do.

Take Jameela Jamil, the outspoken Meghan Markle-supporting English actress who now lives in Hollywood.

Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up & take a pen when the stakes were high. They deserve support & backing not the vile racist abuse they’ve had since last night. If you abuse anyone on social media you’re not an @England fan and we don’t want you. pic.twitter.com/PgskPAXgxV

— Harry Kane (@HKane) July 12, 2021

She wrote on Instagram: “All of that progress. All of that love and pride and unity, all to end in racism and abuse. That’s how we will now remember this final. Not as the extraordinary victory of such a brilliant England team for even making it to the final, but as the lowlife vitriol of football fans. They are attacking Italian fans, abusing Black people in the street and domestic abuse is predicted to rise by 38 percent if England loses.

“What is this? Why do they never learn? What punishment has to happen for them to learn? Does England have to be banned everywhere because it’s fans STILL don’t know how to behave?

“We best see every white player in the entire country condemn the racist behavior of their fans.”

What depressing and divisive rhetoric.

Why on earth should we allow a small group of racist and violent fools to overshadow millions and millions of English folk coming together to celebrate a brilliant side who did so damn well to make the final.

There was rightly instant condemnation of the racist abuse from political leaders across the spectrum.

Here’s what Boris Johnson said about them at his Covid press conference today:

"To those who have been directing racist abuse at some of the players, I say shame on you and I hope you crawl back under the rock from which you emerged"

Boris Johnson starts his presser by slamming those racially abusing England players. pic.twitter.com/4L3sQvaxuK

— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 12, 2021

And the Met Police immediately vowed to investigate and take action, tweeting:

"We are aware of a number of offensive and racist social media comments being directed towards footballers following the Euro 2020 final.

"This abuse is totally unacceptable, it will not be tolerated, and it will be investigated."

However, what I find so shocking is the guilty parties who always get off scot-free are the social media giants like Twitter and Instagram who allow this racist abuse to be posted unchecked.

It’s time these US companies are held accountable for the damage they cause society.

Anonymous postings on social media should not be allowed.

If you want to say something to Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane or any other public figure, you do it online using your full name and picture.

That would immediately make policing these crimes far more realistic.

But this disgusting should not overshadow what has been a brilliant month.

The Three Lions should hold their heads high.

They didn’t quite manage to bring football home, but they came closer than any team in 55 years and did it with so much national pride and dignity.