Athlete Gwen Berry tweeted: „This hate is the reason why athletes cannot ‚just be athletes.'“
Track and field athlete Gwen Berry has shared a message of support to the Black England soccer players that were racially abused following a Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. The 32-year-old used her platform to express solidarity with the soccer players and said she was „not surprised“ after learning they had been subject to horrendous abuse online. In a tweet shared on Monday, Berry said: „Heartbreaking situation! Why am I not surprised! This hate is the reason why athletes cannot ‚just be athletes.‘ „We must stand against these social issues until they no longer affect our lives! Sending my love to Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka and their families.“ She also said in an earlier tweet, which linked to a news story about the abuse: „They only love us when it benefits them…“ The anti-racism activist’s comments came after the England soccer players became the subjects of targeted racist abuse on social media.
