'I won't apologise for who I am' - Rashford

Marcus Rashford: England striker 'won't apologise' for who he is after receiving racist abuse

Marcus Rashford's statement in full:

"I don't even know where to start and I don't even know how to put into words how I am feeling at this exact time.

"I've had a difficult season, I think that's been clear for everyone to see and I probably went into that final with a lack of confidence. I've always backed myself for a penalty, but something didn't feel quite right.

"During the long run-up I was saving myself a bit of time and unfortunately the result was not what I wanted. I felt as though I had let my team-mates down. I felt as if I'd let everyone down. A penalty was all I'd been asked to contribute for the team. I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?

"It's been playing in my head over and over since I struck the ball and there's probably not a word to quite describe how it feels. Final. 55 years. 1 penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had of gone differently.

"Whilst I continue to say sorry I want to shout out my team-mates. This summer has been one of the best camps I've experienced and you've all played a role in that.

"A brotherhood has been built that is unbreakable. Your success is my success. Your failures are mine.

"I've grown into a sport where I expected to read things written about myself.

"Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch.

"I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from. I've felt no prouder moment than wearing those three lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of 10s of thousands.

"I dreamt of days like this. The messages I've received today 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 Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I'll be back stronger. We'll be back stronger."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57814154

Embedded Tweet

Oh this is so tedious. The constant race talk to get some likes.

My advice would be, if you can't handle some nasty comments on social media then you're better off deleting social media. Problem solved.

Or, here's a wild idea, people shouldn't really be abusing anyone on social media or emails or games or anything for any reason?

It shouldn't be a thing that people, particularly people in the public eye because of their job or skills or talent, should have to give up a huge part of their platform, rather than the blame being placed on nasty, horrible bullies.

Extremely glad people are facing backlash and being suspended and fired for their disgusting comments. Be disappointed at a game, even I expressed shock that Rashford missed, but I don't blame that on his race or use his race to denimgrate him. Saw the Savills employee claim the "I've been hacked!!" line... sure mate. And before anyone wants to start with social media should be separate to jobs, you ARE linked to your employer when you splash everything on the internet to find. Plus, bet ya that you signed a social media policy!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lawrawrrr

Or, here's a wild idea, people shouldn't really be abusing anyone on social media or emails or games or anything for any reason?

It shouldn't be a thing that people, particularly people in the public eye because of their job or skills or talent, should have to give up a huge part of their platform, rather than the blame being placed on nasty, horrible bullies.

---

Well yes it is a wild idea you are right, it's kind of like saying - and as easy to say - that you're against child poverty, starvation in the third world, insults on the playground or against war. All very nice sounding, idealistic and utopian, but not at all realistic or achievable and you and I both know it. All it does it allows people to pose, like the wannabe Mother Teresa's laying tributes below a Rashford mural in Manchester.

If you cannot take insults then get off social media because they will always be around. That's indisputable fact.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lawrawrrr

Extremely glad people are facing backlash and being suspended and fired for their disgusting comments. Be disappointed at a game, even I expressed shock that Rashford missed, but I don't blame that on his race or use his race to denimgrate him. Saw the Savills employee claim the "I've been hacked!!" line... sure mate. And before anyone wants to start with social media should be separate to jobs, you ARE linked to your employer when you splash everything on the internet to find. Plus, bet ya that you signed a social media policy!

---

1,000 tweets were directed at Rashford, and Twitter makes 6,000 tweets every second. Most tweets were from abroad.

You're all really doing nothing other than trying to jump on the race bandwagon over a non-issue in order to look good.

Isolate yourself from your family, friends, companies, attractions, celebrities, causes and work related things you care about because you deserve to be insulted just for existing!! uh... no..

Besides who is saying that this individual in question "can't cope" with insults, the whole point is that the people who are SENDING insults and racist abuse (in this instance) should not be brushed off as an "indisputable fact" they should be dealt with appropriately and individually. PS the 1,000 figure you quoted is the number of tweets that have been removed.

This is a football "issue" in that he is a footballer and he took a penalty and did not make it, but it BECAME a race issue when people started blaming the colour of his skin, using racial slurs, telling him to "go back to his own country". THAT is what's wrong, not criticising him for missing the penalty. So-called 'fans' made this a race issue.

Oh look, Dan's trying to justify racism and say it's the fault of the victim for daring to be online in 2021. It's not a "race talk to get some likes" it's a response from someone who has been viciously abused by vile cretins wholly because he happens to be black. Do tell me how racism is a "non-issue" though, that should be interesting

Why are you trying to justify racism?
I can't stand people who are racist like what's the need? these other ethnic groups are not different than any of us apart from their skin colour, religion or where they come from, but the thing is that does not affect there line of job nor the person they are and people should not be being hurtful online or in person towards these people.

For one the UK is a multicultural place and everyone should be accepted no matter what race or religion. Anyone that was racist towards the players are already losing their jobs or being fined and I totally agree that they should be!

Let's look at it this way if Jack Grealish took the penalty and missed no one would care and that's because people like Jack Grealish and of course he is a white person and it sickens me that this is how the world is in the 21st century. A lot more needs doing over racism and a lot more education in schools, colleges and universities.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cameron446:

Let's look at it this way if Jack Grealish took the penalty and missed no one would care and that's because people like Jack Grealish and of course he is a white person and it sickens me that this is how the world is in the 21st century. A lot more needs doing over racism and a lot more education in schools, colleges and universities.

---

this probably isn't true, if any footballer missed a penalty they would be sent abuse and have it brought up year after year (how many years has it been since Southgate missed his, and even I know that he still gets ridiculed for it). Unfortunately there is a subsection of football fans who think it's ok to to fight with each other, break glasses, trash streets, break property, steal from each other, and yes, send abuse on social media. If a white player missed a penalty, they'd be ridiculed and harassed, but they wouldn't be told to go back to their own country (even if they weren't from England), it wouldn't be BLAMED on their race. That kind of abuse is also terrible. It's just unnecessary!

It's every fandom though, it's not just football. I like RuPaul's Drag Race and queens on there get abuse for all kinds of things they do, let alone for things they can't control like their skin colour. Just dislike celebs or public figures (or even just general people you interact with) QUIETLY and PRIVATELY, what is @ing them or DMing them gonna achieve exactly?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

Well yes it is a wild idea you are right, it's kind of like saying - and as easy to say - that you're against child poverty, starvation in the third world, insults on the playground or against war. All very nice sounding, idealistic and utopian, but not at all realistic or achievable and you and I both know it. All it does it allows people to pose, like the wannabe Mother Teresa's laying tributes below a Rashford mural in Manchester.

If you cannot take insults then get off social media because they will always be around. That's indisputable fact.

1,000 tweets were directed at Rashford, and Twitter makes 6,000 tweets every second. Most tweets were from abroad.


You're all really doing nothing other than trying to jump on the race bandwagon over a non-issue in order to look good.

---

Wanting people who receive abuse to just "get off social media" is as unrealistic as wanting there to be no abuse at all on the internet and you and I both know it.

You're really doing nothing other than trying to jump on the antisocial media bandwagon over a non-issue in order to have something to be controversial about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lawrawrrr

Isolate yourself from your family, friends, companies, attractions, celebrities, causes and work related things you care about because you deserve to be insulted just for existing!! uh... no..

Besides who is saying that this individual in question "can't cope" with insults, the whole point is that the people who are SENDING insults and racist abuse (in this instance) should not be brushed off as an "indisputable fact" they should be dealt with appropriately and individually. PS the 1,000 figure you quoted is the number of tweets that have been removed.

This is a football "issue" in that he is a footballer and he took a penalty and did not make it, but it BECAME a race issue when people started blaming the colour of his skin, using racial slurs, telling him to "go back to his own country". THAT is what's wrong, not criticising him for missing the penalty. So-called 'fans' made this a race issue.

---

I'm sorry, but whatever footballer missed a penalty was going to come under verbal abuse. And, when people abuse other people, they will pick on a trait that makes them different. A gay footballer would be called a bender, a slightly portly one would be called fat, a ginger one would be called a ginger rat, one with *REMOVED* would be called a bog eye..... I could go on and on. To me, anyone shocked that people when resorting to verbal abuse will use minority traits, is very shielded from society.

Delete the apps or just ignore it. That's the choice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

Oh look, Dan's trying to justify racism and say it's the fault of the victim for daring to be online in 2021. It's not a "race talk to get some likes" it's a response from someone who has been viciously abused by vile cretins wholly because he happens to be black. Do tell me how racism is a "non-issue" though, that should be interesting

---

Where did I justify racism?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cameron446:

Why are you trying to justify racism?
I can't stand people who are racist like what's the need? these other ethnic groups are not different than any of us apart from their skin colour, religion or where they come from, but the thing is that does not affect there line of job nor the person they are and people should not be being hurtful online or in person towards these people.

For one the UK is a multicultural place and everyone should be accepted no matter what race or religion. Anyone that was racist towards the players are already losing their jobs or being fined and I totally agree that they should be!

Let's look at it this way if Jack Grealish took the penalty and missed no one would care and that's because people like Jack Grealish and of course he is a white person and it sickens me that this is how the world is in the 21st century. A lot more needs doing over racism and a lot more education in schools, colleges and universities.

---

That's just a Miss World speech isn't it though.

Where did I justify racism?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Empired

Wanting people who receive abuse to just "get off social media" is as unrealistic as wanting there to be no abuse at all on the internet and you and I both know it.

You're really doing nothing other than trying to jump on the antisocial media bandwagon over a non-issue in order to have something to be controversial about.

---

Sure, people will still use social media and be abused. But if they ignore my solution to simply turn it off, what do they want me to do? Cry?

Post edited by Triz (Forum Manager) Please do not post racial slurs

You're blaming the victims for being online and said that it's a non-issue, therefore you clearly think people being racist isn't a problem and it's all fine and dandy. Surely I'm mistaken though, you can't seriously think that people calling for lynch mobs and blaming an entire race for a misskick is reasonable behaviour right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

You're blaming the victims for being online and said that it's a non-issue, therefore you clearly think people being racist isn't a problem and it's all fine and dandy. Surely I'm mistaken though, you can't seriously think that people calling for lynch mobs and blaming an entire race for a misskick is reasonable behaviour right?

---

Again, I have said nothing of the sort. What you're trying to do is turn it into as though I am supporting the comments. I said that online abuse targeting people's characteristics is a part of life and will always be with us so there's no point getting our knickers in a national twist over it. Now is that true or false?

Yes Dan exactly, people pick on all kinds of physical attributes and it's all vile and disgusting and none of it should be acceptable or victims told to "put up with it or log off". Let's not condone bullying or nasty comments for ANY reason. I don't think anyone is shocked or surprised that such comments exist, but that doesn't make it OK and the people making the comments should be punished as per the terms of service of the platform.

It's not PART OF LIFE to put up with abuse online, abusers should be punished, banned, muted, blocked.

There was racist comments on the mural of Rashford IRL maybe people shouldn't go out to avoid that?? What about gay people in the street being spat on??? Yes all minorities should sit inside all the time not speaking to anyone and not ever go online. Ridiculous!

You ARE supporting the comments, you're saying it's down to the victims to (somehow) avoid being targeted rather than being down to racists to not be racist. It's very weird and very damaging to just be all "oh well nothing can be done" in the face of entirely avoidable abuse

So if I went around the streets punching random people for a whole month, Dan would tell everyone to stay indoors otherwise they should shut up and take it because it "should be expected" after me doing it for a month? If we all followed Dan's advice and everyone just carried on as normal in history and didn't speak out or take action about anything, we'd still have slave labour, women wouldn't be allowed to vote, segregation in public, the list goes on.

I'm sure all the players are used to this disgusting behaviour because unfortunately horrible people do this week in, week out. The fact it's being made so public is to educate people that it's not right and they won't stand for it. Silently deleting an account doesn't do anything, speaking out raises awareness, creates these discussions and allows for change. Next time a racist feels like posting on social media, they'll think again about potentially losing their job and perhaps they'll keep it to themselves. That's the point of this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lawrawrrr

Yes Dan exactly, people pick on all kinds of physical attributes and it's all vile and disgusting and none of it should be acceptable or victims told to "put up with it or log off". Let's not condone bullying or nasty comments for ANY reason. I don't think anyone is shocked or surprised that such comments exist, but that doesn't make it OK and the people making the comments should be punished as per the terms of service of the platform.

It's not PART OF LIFE to put up with abuse online, abusers should be punished, banned, muted, blocked.

There was racist comments on the mural of Rashford IRL maybe people shouldn't go out to avoid that?? What about gay people in the street being spat on??? Yes all minorities should sit inside all the time not speaking to anyone and not ever go online. Ridiculous!

---

I agree with your solution of blocking. So what's the big issue? Everyone has a mute/block button on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter.

And there was no racist graffiti at the Rashford mural, as the Police themselves have said.

https://news.sky.com/story/marcus-ra...e-say-12356971

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

You ARE supporting the comments, you're saying it's down to the victims to (somehow) avoid being targeted rather than being down to racists to not be racist. It's very weird and very damaging to just be all "oh well nothing can be done" in the face of entirely avoidable abuse

---

Conflating me saying nasty comments are an inevitable part of real life with supporting the comments is just you trying to go for me rather than what I'm saying.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RichBoiSam

So if I went around the streets punching random people for a whole month, Dan would tell everyone to stay indoors otherwise they should shut up and take it because it "should be expected" after me doing it for a month? If we all followed Dan's advice and everyone just carried on as normal in history and didn't speak out or take action about anything, we'd still have slave labour, women wouldn't be allowed to vote, segregation in public, the list goes on.

I'm sure all the players are used to this disgusting behaviour because unfortunately horrible people do this week in, week out. The fact it's being made so public is to educate people that it's not right and they won't stand for it. Silently deleting an account doesn't do anything, speaking out raises awareness, creates these discussions and allows for change. Next time a racist feels like posting on social media, they'll think again about potentially losing their job and perhaps they'll keep it to themselves. That's the point of this.

---

Nasty comments are very different from the abolition of slavery and women getting the vote.

Do you honestly believe you can build a utopia where nobody is ever nasty or mean to someone else ever again?

It speaks volumes that you think racist attacks are just "nasty comments", it's shocking that you pretend to know the real world when you know absolutely nothing about anything other than how to be contrary for contrariness' sake

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

It speaks volumes that you think racist attacks are just "nasty comments", it's shocking that you pretend to know the real world when you know absolutely nothing about anything other than how to be contrary for contrariness' sake

---

I had racist jibes/comments made to me as a teenager in school and even had some in my old job working in a hotel bar.

The P word, N-nose, go back to where you came from etc.

Other people in school had much worse, non-racial stuff directed at them. Have you never been insulted or something?

Ahhh of course, the old "it doesn't affect me badly so it's not a problem". It's great that you're not personally upset by these things happening to you but unchecked race hate is something that so so often escalates to physical violence that it absolutely needs to be stamped out at its root where possible, including not making people who make these comments feel like it's ok to do so free from consequence

I was called names and bullied in college and I ended up feeling very suicidal and even came close to taking my own life. But Dan was able to handle it so it's no big deal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

Ahhh of course, the old "it doesn't affect me badly so it's not a problem". It's great that you're not personally upset by these things happening to you but unchecked race hate is something that so so often escalates to physical violence that it absolutely needs to be stamped out at its root where possible, including not making people who make these comments feel like it's ok to do so free from consequence

---

You first made out that I had no idea about any of this, then I explained I had it directed at me in school and in my previous job.

I got on with it. Insults are a part of life and you will *never* create a utopia where people's feelings will not ever be hurt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RichBoiSam

I was called names and bullied in college and I ended up feeling very suicidal and even came close to taking my own life. But Dan was able to handle it so it's no big deal.

---

That's very sad, but the fact of life is that insults on the playground or on social media will never be stopped despite our best efforts.

That doesn't mean to say throw in the towel, but as adults we must take nasty comments with a pinch of salt. That's just the reality of it.

Yes, double down on the "I got over it so it's ok for everyone" angle, that definitely works. Also continue to ignore the greater problems that arise from these insults in favour of letting people be as abusive as they like forever and ever... I've never been more glad that you have no governmental influence, and I genuinely fear for the children you teach if this is how you propose we deal with aggression and hatred

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

Yes, double down on the "I got over it so it's ok for everyone" angle, that definitely works. Also continue to ignore the greater problems that arise from these insults in favour of letting people be as abusive as they like forever and ever... I've never been more glad that you have no governmental influence, and I genuinely fear for the children you teach if this is how you propose we deal with aggression and hatred

---

Oh for gods sake of course people are affected differently by insults. Well done Captain Obvious. That still doesn't mean we'll abolish nastiness or insults.

Multi-millionaire footballers and celebrities all have the option to mute, block or delete their social media. A child in a classroom does not.

You're still placing all the onus on the victim and allowing the perpetrators to go unchallenged, can you really not see how dangerous and damaging that is?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyingJesus

You're still placing all the onus on the victim and allowing the perpetrators to go unchallenged, can you really not see how dangerous and damaging that is?

---

Twitter can and ought to ban them.

What my objection is to is the over-the-top reaction to stupid insults online as though it is the first time we've heard of such a thing.