Euro 2020: England fans are divided over players removing runners-up medals

England football supporters are split over whether Gareth Southgate’s men should have removed their runners-up medals at last night’s Euros final as soon as they were awarded them, with just seven players keeping them on after the Three Lions’ crushing defeat by Italy.  

The players were awarded their silver medals moments after their agonising penalty shoot-out defeat, but almost all of them removed theirs just moments after they were presented with them by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin at Wembley Stadium.

Southgate, Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson  kept their medals on. But the rest of the squad appeared to get rid of theirs as quickly as possible, to mixed reaction from their devastated and outraged fans.

England supporters watching the nerve-shredding Euro 2020 final at home slammed what they considered to be unsporting and ‘disrespectful’ behaviour, with social media users thundering: ‘Be an example to youngsters and show some humility!’ 

Another Twitter user posted: ‘I really don’t get why England players took off the medals so quickly and dismissively. Bad vibe x sport. They played well throughout the tournament. Period.’

Actor and failed London mayoral candidate Laurence Fox slammed the England players on Twitter, calling them ‘kneeling babies’ and ‘sore losers’. He said: ‘You don’t take your medal off in camera shot like it’s someone else’s fault that you took too many steps for your penalty. 

‘You lost. Pay your respects to those who beat you by waiting ten yards before you pull your medal off. Be gracious. Sore losers.’

Luke Shaw, who scored England’s goal against Italy, promptly removed his silver medal 

England captain Harry Kane took his off straight away in the medal ceremony at Wembley

Actor and failed London mayoral candidate Laurence Fox slammed the England players on Twitter, calling them ‘kneeling babies’ and ‘sore losers’. He said: ‘You don’t take your medal off in camera shot like it’s someone else’s fault that you took too many steps for your penalty’

A different viewer said that the sort of reaction loses England fans from other British nations, writing: ‘Taking the medals off is EXACTLY why the rest of the UK don’t support England.’

But some supporters liked the response by England. One said: ‘I personally cheered those England players removing their silver medals.’

England fell to an agonising defeat on penalties on Sunday night, with Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford failing to score from the spot.

The final had started perfectly for England, with left-back Luke Shaw firing home from close range in only the second minute of the game. But Italy fought their way back into the tie and Leonardo Bonucci poked home to equalise midway through the second half. 

Many football fans watching on at home were left unimpressed with some of the players 

One supporter watching on said that he cheered the England players who took their medal off

England manager Gareth Southgate kept his medal on in the aftermath of the ceremony

Jadon Sancho walked away with his medal in his hands in the aftermath of the bitter defeat

Sancho, Rashford and Saka were all late substitutes, brought on with penalties in mind and England boss Southgate took responsibility for selecting which players took their spot-kicks, saying: ‘It is down to me.

‘I decided on the penalty-takers based on what they have done in training.

‘Nobody is on their own. We have won together as a team and it is on all of us together to not be able to win this game.

‘In terms of penalties, it is my call and it totally rests with me.’