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.
