Euro 2020: four arrested after police contacted social media giants over messages targeting England players

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An investigation into messages directed at England players after the Euro final. Police said it led to four arrests and dozens of data applications at the social media company.

Following the team's loss against Italy on Sunday, a stream of racist comments directed at some black players appeared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The UK Football Police Unit (UKFPU) has launched an investigation into a hate crime. investigators are working on a large number of reports from across the country.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of football policing at the National Police Authority. The council said dozens of data applications had been lodged with social media companies and four people had been arrested by local police.

"Racial abuse directed at our own players. The game after Sunday night was extremely nasty and quite rightly shocked and shook people across the country," he said.

"Our England team was a real role model during the tournament. , behaving professionally and with dignity.

"I am disgusted that there are people who find it acceptable to direct such disgusting insults at them or anyone else.

"The UKFPU investigation is well underway and the work to identify those responsible is ongoing. We are working very closely with the social media platforms that provide the data needed to complete the enquiries.

"If we establish that you are the perpetrator of this crime, we will hunt you down and you will face serious consequences for your shameful actions."

A 50-year-old man turned himself in at Cheadle Heath Police Station on Wednesday, Greater Manchester Police said.

He was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Malicious Communications Act and remains in custody for questioning.

Two men were also arrested by West Mercia Police - a 60 year old man from Powick, near Worcester, and a man in his 264 s from Shropshire .

There were 897 football-related incidents and 264 arrests recorded across the country in the 37 - hour period before the final.

The figure brings the total number of football-related incidents during the Euro 2021 tournament to 2, 344, involving 726 arrests.

Police said it was a "significant increase" from incidents seen during previous tournaments, including the World Cup and Euro 2016.

The UKFPU receives allegations of offensive posts from local forces, charities and football clubs and assesses content before contacting social media companies to trace them. for posts.

W Once the offender is identified, they are referred to the relevant local police for further investigation and appropriate action in conjunction with CPS.