Some yet to be identified angry English fans, have touched Marcus Rashford’s mural, for his role in thwarting the long-awaited homecoming of football to the United Kingdom.
Police are investigating the incident, which happened less than an hour after England lost to Italy in last night’s Euro 2020 final, Metro Sports reports.
According to the report, lettering in blue paint was daubed over the black and white image of the footballer, while elsewhere the words ‘F**k Sancho’ were written, a reference to his teammate Jadon Sancho.
It has since been covered up with bin bags by Ed Wellard, founder of Withington Walls which organised the Marcus Rashford’s mural.
‘We dared to dream yesterday and our hopes were dashed but to wake up to this is more depressing. Racism seems to be more and more prevalent,’ he told the BBC.
The mural by street artist Akse, commissioned after the footballer’s role in getting free meals to schoolchildren, features a quote from his mother saying: ‘Take pride in knowing that your struggle will play the biggest role in your purpose.’
Rashford, Sancho and Bukayo Saka missed their penalties last night as England missed the chance to lift their first trophy, since 1966.
Slurs along with monkey and banana emojis were posted on their social media, with the Metropolitan Police warning the ‘unacceptable’ behaviour ‘will not be tolerated’.
A furious statement from The Football Association said any fan who partook in the ‘disgusting behaviour’ was ‘not welcome in following the team’.
The artwork to Rashford, on the wall of The Coffee House Cafe on Copson Street in Withington, south Manchester, was defaced with the words ‘she’ and ‘b****’, along with the outline of a penis.
Before moving to Wythenshawe, Rashford lived with his mum Mel and four siblings in both Withington and Fallowfield.
He attended Old Moat School – a five minute walk from the mural – and lived on Saltney Avenue in Withington when he signed for junior side Fletcher Moss Rangers at the age of six.
The mural was previously targeted by vandals in December when it was daubed with white paint.