Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham has opened up about the racial abuse black players in the English suffered after the Euro 2020 finals àgainst Italy.
England suffered a shock defeat to Italy in the finals at Wembley on Penalty shoot-outs, Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka, and Marcos Rashford were the players that missed for England.
Describing the aftermath of the Euro 2020 finals defeats, Jude Bellingham claims he felt the whole England Fans were against the black players in the England national team after Sancho, Saka and Rashford were subjected to racist abuse on social media.
What did Jude Bellingham say?
Speaking at a press conference ahead of England’s national league on Tuesday, He said: “You look at the run into that final and you felt as though the country had united,” Bellingham told reporters on Tuesday. “Then as soon as they missed a penalty, they were not English, just black.
“Anyone can miss a penalty. Anyone can make a mistake in their line of work. But to be criticized like that should never happen. They are human.”
Jude Bellingham also heaped praises on England Boss Garth Southgate for how he supported the Black players after the Euro 2020.
Bellingham added: “To be fair, Gareth Southgate was brilliant.
“He has always brought it up as a topic in meetings when we are aware that we are going to a country with a history of racism. We went to Hungary shortly after the Euros and the same thing happened again but we felt more prepared. We felt more supported because of what Gareth had put in place. As a Black player, you feel very grateful for that.”
“There’s not a single job in the world where you deserve to be criticized with racism. I’ll never forget the first time I properly got a batch of messages. My club was quick to send someone to message me and make sure I was alright and I appreciate that. I had team-mates message me and family members.”
Jude Bellingham also hit back at the German Football Federation for the way they respond to racism issues.
He said: “I didn’t receive anything from the DFB or FA,” he said. “And I always kind of compare it to when I said the thing about the referee in December. They were very quick to get into contact to give me my fine, give me my punishment, and kind of make it a big drama in the media.
“I’ve learned from that. I know what I can and can’t say. I know that sometimes I have to control my emotions better. But, you know, when you give that more energy than the situation I was going through, well – I felt: ‘Maybe we are alone. Maybe they’re not interested, maybe they don’t care. And maybe it is down to me and down to us to work independently to get our message out.”
Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen claims it is an honor and privilege to play for the national team after receiving his first call-up.
Bowen said: “It is everything.
“It is everything you dream of when you’re growing up and to get the call, obviously is an honor and a privilege.”
