As close as you’ll get to an admission that Mings was, of course, absolutely correct
Priti Patel will not be responding to the scathing criticism she received from England defender Tyrone Mings on Monday night.
The Home Secretary had tweeted earlier in the day that she was “disgusted” at the racist abuse received by England trio Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after their penalty misses saw Gareth Southgate’s men lose the Euro 2020 final to Italy in a shootout on Sunday night.
The irony wasn’t lost on Mings – and many others – given Patel’s stance on England’s decision to take the knee during the tournament.
Speaking before the Three Lions’ opening game with Croatia, she had likened it to “gesture politics” and said that it was up to England supporters whether they decided to boo it or not.
Quote-tweeting her, Mings, who remained remarkably dignified when talking about Patel’s comments last month, let rip, accusing her of “stoking the fire”.
“You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens,” his tweet read.
You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens. https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2
— Tyrone Mings (@TyroneMings) July 12, 2021
The tweet has been widely shared in the time sent, with the vast majority of those reading it praising the Aston Villa defender for calling out Patel’s hypocrisy.
In the wake of it, a tweet from BBC Newsnight Policy Editor Lewis Goodall confirmed that, having approached Patel’s office for a response to Mings tweet, there would be no comment made.
Have approached Priti Patel’s office for a response to Tyrone Mings’ tweet. Have been told they’re not commenting.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) July 12, 2021
This, not that it was needed, was a clear indication that Mings was, of course, absolutely correct.
The hours that followed England’s heartbreaking end to Euro 2020 saw racist abuse directed at the three players who missed penalties in the shootout.
A mural to Rashford in Withington was also defaced, but has since been covered by supportive messages to the Manchester United star. Having posted his reaction on Monday, Rashford thanked those who had taken the time to reach out to him in an emotional statement posted to his social media platforms.
