Fans have plastered love hearts on a mural of Marcus Rashford after it was vandalised by trolls.
The England star, along with Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, were bombarded with racist abuse after they missed their penalties in the Euro 2020 final last night.
Less than an hour after England’s heartbreaking loss to Italy, lettering in blue paint was daubed over the black and white mural in Withington, south Manchester.
The obscenities were covered up with bin bags this morning, but proud locals went one step further to honour their home-grown star.
Messages of support calling Rashford a ‘hero’ and ‘role model’ appeared on the mural, paying tribute to his footballing success and campaign to feed children during the school holidays.
One of the fans sending well-wishes to Rashford today was a little boy called Dexter Rosier, whose touching letter was shared by Piers Morgan on Twitter.
He wrote: ‘Dear Marcus Rashford, I hope you won’t be sad for too long because you are such a good person.
‘Last year you inspired me to help people less fortunate. Then last night, you inspired me again to always be brave.
‘I’m proud of you, you will always be a hero. From Dexter Rosier. Aged nine.’
Police said they were investigating the graffiti on the mural, which was painted in November in honour of the activist footballer, near where he grew up.
Chief Superintendent Paul Savill said: ‘This is disgraceful behaviour and will absolutely not be tolerated.
‘Greater Manchester prides itself on being made up from a number of diverse communities, and hate crime in any form is completely unacceptable and not welcome here in our city.
‘GMP takes crimes of this nature very seriously and an investigation has been launched. If anyone has any information that could help us to identify this offender please do not hesitate to speak to police.’
Slurs along with monkey and banana emojis were posted on Rashford’s social media accounts, 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’.
Rashford was brought on during Sunday’s final but he missed his penalty, along with Sancho and Saka.
They received support from many fans – but also bore the brunt of disappointment, with even one Tory MP claiming on a politicians’ group chat: ‘They lost – would it be ungenerous to suggest Rashford should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics.’
However, one fan said instead: ‘Let Marcus Rashford be remembered as the guy who spent this year feeding hundreds of thousands of England’s children.’
Another commented: ‘We were robbed. Saka, Rashford we got you – we are proud of you Raised fist @MarcusRashford @BukayoSaka87’.
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