Media criticised for use of Saka image in England defeat

Some media outlets person been criticised for nan "divisive" prime of utilizing a photograph of Bukayo Saka to exemplify England's conclusion to Iceland.

Saka came connected arsenic a 65th-minute substitute successful nan crippled astatine Wembley connected Friday, but an image of him was utilized crossed respective backmost pages of English newspapers.

A societal media station of nan sum was highlighted by erstwhile England striker Ian Wright who said that "those deciding who goes connected nan backmost pages cognize what they're doing".

The Star and nan Sun were highlighted for utilizing a Saka image connected their backmost pages, while nan Telegraph utilized 22-year-old Saka to exemplify a subordinate ratings station connected X.

The BBC Sport website's unrecorded text, which changes its main image passim nan match, besides utilized an image of Saka during nan crippled aft he had travel on.

In an unfastened missive to editors, Kick It Out main executive Tony Burnett said nan media needs to "remember its responsibilities".

Burnett said: "Over nan past fewer years, we cognize that a batch of activity has gone into diversifying nan media industry, and it has helped successful showing that perpetrators of favoritism person been brought to justice.

"But galore fans will person woken up connected Saturday greeting and questioned whether thing has changed astatine all.

"Heading into Euro 2024, fans are rightly asking whether nan existent England squad will spot a repetition of what happened to Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho aft nan past Euros last wherever each 3 suffered unspeakable online maltreatment because of their actions connected nan field.

"It's a mobility we person been asking ourselves astatine Kick it Out.

"There has been advancement pinch prosecutions, and nan Online Safety Bill has been passed to hopefully bring much scrutiny connected societal media companies. But past season, we received much reports – some online and successful stadiums - targeting players than ever before. So immoderate gains we are making, they are not enough.

"I shouldn't request to punctual you that nan effect of achromatic players being targeted successful nan media has a agelong history and is felt acold and wide. It sends a connection that they are not welcome, that they are only a misplaced footwear from being vilified and it sends a connection to online abusers that targeting players is adjacent game.

"But it besides sends a connection to fans from achromatic and taste number communities that they do not beryllium aliases tin beryllium abused too. Those points request to beryllium considered erstwhile penning headlines aliases selecting images arsenic deadlines approach. The words and pictures recreation a agelong way, hitting harder than you mightiness realise."

Delroy Corinaldi, executive head of Black Footballers Partnership, called nan usage of Saka imagery "divisive" and added: "We've been present before: nan UK media has not learnt from its past behaviours.

"In 2018, Raheem Sterling called retired nan media for unfairly targeting young achromatic footballers pinch antagonistic headlines. Yet present we are a week earlier nan Euro 2024 tournament, and nan property are playing their property aged games."

Saka, Rashford and Sancho were racially abused connected societal media successful nan aftermath of each 3 missing penalties successful England's 3-2 shootout nonaccomplishment to Italy successful nan Euro 2020 final.

A time aft suffering alleged racist maltreatment from Chelsea fans during his then-club Manchester City's conclusion astatine Stamford Bridge successful December 2018, Sterling - who has since joined nan Blues - said newspapers were helping to "fuel racism" by nan ways successful which they represent young achromatic footballers.

Arsenal winger Saka made his England debut successful October 2020 and has since accumulated 33 caps, scoring 11 goals.

Wright called for greater media responsibility, saying: "Now much than ever let's get down and support these young people. We tin each spot what's happening and who's being group up to beryllium nan look of defeat.

"Let's support our power focused connected giving these players axenic emotion and support passim nan tournament."

Football journalist Darren Lewis, who is adjunct editor of nan Daily Mirror and president of nan Sports Journalists' Association, besides criticised nan usage of Saka's image successful nan aftermath of nan defeat.

"Just because I activity successful nan media it doesn't mean I can't admit nan interest astir Bukayo Saka being utilized arsenic nan look of England's conclusion and mediocre capacity - contempt different players performing worse - crossed a number of platforms," Lewis wrote connected societal media.

"It is simply a reminder that we request to deliberation astir everything put into nan nationalist domain."

BBC Sport has approached nan Sun, nan Star, nan Telegraph, property regulator Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) and newspaper assemblage News Media Association for a response.