Is the (virtual) pen mightier than the sword?

UNITED KINGDOM LAW

So for those of us who follow European football, yesterday was a significant day.

The build up had been mesmeric and the anticipation of Italian and English fans was ever growing up until kick off. I'm English and my wife is Italian. We watched the game together and I even made her a make-shift Italy flag (all shirts were sold out). The game ended in a penalty shoot-out and the better team on the night (and indeed the tournament) won. It's a tough way to lose, but it happens and we accept it or at least we should do.

The backlash of the result has been mixed and there has unfortunately been extreme examples of disgusting, unacceptable, racist abuse directed at young men who did nothing but reach a final (and were literally one kick away from being champions). There has been many videos posted online recording mass brawling and physical violence towards both opposition fans and innocent own-business minders who just happen to have darker skin pigmentation.

The online abuse is perhaps the least punished. I have heard that a football club has banned one fan for 3 years for online racist hate....is this really enough?

There are calls for legislation to be brought in to change the way in which protagonists of this vile abuse to be punished further. It is my opinion that in the next 12 months that those found guilty of online racist abuse will be punished by way of a custodial sentence.

Today, I understand that an employee of a global property agency was also relieved of his position for posting racist messages following the game.

I envisage that future legislation will make it a mandatory requirement to implement a social media policy to go inline with equal opportunities and data protection policies. This largely exists in the corporate world, but SMEs and sole-traders will need to onboard an up-to-date policy.

As a football fan who has supported England in five different decades, I for one recognise that whilst, July 11th 2021, should have been one of the nation's proudest moments (win or lose), it for many, including me, will be considered one of the most shameful days in our country's history.

Hopefully a change is coming home.