England footballer Marcus Rashford's moving message after racist graffiti daubed on mural of him

Marcus Rashford has sent a moving apology to England fans for his penalty miss - and thanked the people of his hometown who covered racist graffiti scrawled on a mural of his face with messages of love.
People start to cover the racist graffiti on Marcus Rashford's mural with messages of love in WithingtonPeople start to cover the racist graffiti on Marcus Rashford's mural with messages of love in Withington
People start to cover the racist graffiti on Marcus Rashford's mural with messages of love in Withington

Marcus Rashford has apologised for his missed penalty in England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy but promised to come back stronger.

The Manchester United forward was one of three players to fail to score in the shoot-out alongside Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. All three have since suffered racist abuse on social media.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a moving message on Twitter, Rashford apologised for his missed penalty, saying: "I felt as if I'd let everyone down."

Marcus Rashford reacts after his penalty miss against ItalyMarcus Rashford reacts after his penalty miss against Italy
Marcus Rashford reacts after his penalty miss against Italy

The Manchester United forward said: "I don't even know where to start and I don't even know how to put into words how I am feeling at this exact time.

"I've had a difficult season, I think that's been clear for everyone to see and I probably went into that final with a lack of confidence. I've always backed myself for a penalty, but something didn't feel quite right.

"During the long run-up I was saving myself a bit of time and unfortunately the result was not what I wanted. I felt as though I had let my team-mates down. I felt as if I'd let everyone down. A penalty was all I'd been asked to contribute for the team. I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It's been playing in my head over and over since I struck the ball and there's probably not a word to quite describe how it feels. Final. 55 years. 1 penalty. History. All I can say is sorry. I wish it had of gone differently."

Rashford praised the England squad for building an "unbreakable" bond during the tournament.

He added: "Whilst I continue to say sorry I want to shout out my team-mates. This summer has been one of the best camps I've experienced and you've all played a role in that.

"A brotherhood has been built that is unbreakable. Your success is my success. Your failures are mine."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 23-year-old, whose mural in the Manchester suburb of Withington was defaced after his penalty miss before being covered in messages of support, promised he would come back stronger from this disappointment.

"I've grown into a sport where I expected to read things written about myself. Whether it be the colour of my skin, where I grew up, or, most recently, how I decide to spend my time off the pitch," Rashford said, in reference to his campaign against homelessness and child hunger in the UK.

"I can take critique of my performance all day long, my penalty was not good enough, it should have gone in but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from. I've felt no prouder moment than wearing those three lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of 10s of thousands.

"I dreamt of days like this. The messages I've received today have been positively overwhelming and seeing the response in Withington had me on the verge of tears. The communities that always wrapped their arms around me continue to hold me up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I'm Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester. If I have nothing else I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I'll be back stronger. We'll be back stronger."