Former English skipper, Kevin Pietersen has recently expressed concern over the United Kingdom hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup after the violence and the act of racism scarred in the country after England losing the Euro 2020 final in London on Sunday night. English football fans failed to control their emotions after the national team lost 3-2 on penalties against Italy in the title clash at the Wembley Stadium. With the loss, England’s hopes of winning a major trophy after a huge gap of 55 years at home.
Ahead of the much-awaited final, the English fans were chanting ‘Bring it Home’, however, the Italians who had the last laugh in the end as Euro 2020 winner Leonardo Bonucci shouted on camera saying, “It’s coming to Rome”. After the incident, the drunk and angry English fans were seen beating the Italian fans at Wembley, while Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford were racially abused on social media after they missed their penalties which resulted in the loss of England.
Politicians, sports personalities, and even British royalty were seen condemning the racial abuse on the colored players in the English team while Kevin Pietersen questioned whether they deserve to host the World Cup in 9 years’ time or not after “this behavior in 2021”.
ALSO READ: Shoaib Akhtar Terms Jonny Bairstow Overrated Batsman
Tweeting about his concerns, Kevin Pietersen wrote: “The walk I took with Dylan to get our car home last night was scary absolutely HORRENDOUS! This behavior in 2021?? The abuse of the players who gave us so much joy?? Do we actually deserve the 2030 World Cup?” Pietersen tweeted,
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1414511769884794881?s=19
England manager Gareth Southgate termed the abuse “unforgivable” as he slammed the racist fans during a news conference on Monday. Talking to the reporters, Southgate said, “For some of them (England players) to be abused is unforgivable. Some of it has come from abroad, we have been told this, but some of it is from this country.”
ALSO READ: Sri Lanka Changes Timings For The ODIs and T20Is Against India
In the meantime, the England football team has also garnered a lot of praise for its stand against racism, while a number of players have also campaigned on other social causes. The multi-racial make-up of the squad had been hailed as reflecting a more diverse modern Britain.
