THE football world put their arms around Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka today after the trio were subjected to vile amounts of racism following their penalty misses in Sunday’s European final defeat against Italy.

In the immediate aftermath of the result, racists took to social media to hurl abuse at the players, with social media platform Twitter said it had proactively removed more than 1,000 posts over the past 24 hours which violated its policy and also taken swift action to permanently suspend a number of accounts.

Clubs, MPs and athletes not only in football but various sports also spoke out against the horrific messages while offering support to the three black players.

Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out and players’ union the Professional Footballers’ Association again called on social media companies and the government to stamp out the abuse on online platforms.

“We will continue to work with our partners in football to drive discrimination out of the game, but we call on those with the power to act now,” Kick It Out chief executive Tony Burnett said.

“The social media companies need to do more to stamp out abuse on their platforms, and the government also need to step up and keep its promise to regulate. The Online Safety Bill could be a game-changer and we aim to help make that happen.”

The PFA said in a statement: “Racist abuse causes trauma. It will impact the targeted players, their teammates, and we know it will also affect their peers.

“It causes hurt to all the other fans who view online hate, and it will inevitably live with the next aspiring generation of young players.

“Unfortunately, the abusive messages were all too predictable. However, the intervention from social media companies is insufficient, and it is allowing racist abuse to thrive on the platforms.

“Social platforms must permanently ban all offending accounts and proactively compile evidence to give to the police to pursue prosecution.

“We have collectively called out unsatisfactory policies and action around racist abuse for years — and still it continues.

“There has been talk of strong commitments and tough measures from the social networks. Based on the evidence so far, we’re not buying it. Social networks, we need you to do better.”

Arsenal released a statement stating their pride in how Saka represented his club and his country during the tournament, which had turned to sorrow when witnessing the abuse the 19-year-old suffered.

“We are sad to have to say we condemn the racism of a number of black players,” the statement said.

“This cannot continue and the social media platforms and authorities must act to ensure this disgusting abuse to which our players are subjected on a daily basis stops now.

“We have processes in place internally at Arsenal to ensure our players are supported both emotionally and practically on this issue but sadly there is only so much we can do.

“Our message to Bukayo is: hold your head high, we are so very proud of you and we cannot wait to welcome you back home to Arsenal soon.”

Manchester United compiled messages of support for striker Rashford on their website, and a statement introducing the posts said: “It takes tremendous guts to take a penalty under such pressure, when the entire nation is anxiously watching on, so we are proud that Marcus was brave enough to step up.”

Manager Gareth Southgate, who was seen consoling his players afterwards, said: “For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really.

“I know a lot of that has come from abroad, that people who track those things have been able to explain that, but not all of it.

“It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.

“We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together.

“We heal together as a team now, and we’re there for them, and I know that 99 per cent of the public will be as well.

“Bukayo in particular has been an absolute star in this tournament, [he has shown] incredible maturity and the way he has played has brought a smile to so many people’s faces. He’s become such a popular member of the group and I know he has got everybody’s support.”

League Two club Leyton Orient said they had issued a three-year banning order to a season-ticket holder related to the abuse of England players.