A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy from Westcliff has written a heartfelt letter to England teenager Bukayo Saka telling him he was “so brave to stand up and take the penalty” after the footballer was racially abused following the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.
After Arsenal star Saka, 19, missed the decisive penalty against Italy on Sunday, him and teammates Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho received a torrent of racist abuse on social media.
Charlie Taylor, from Westcliff, decided to write the letter after he found out about people sending hurtful messages to members of the England football team when he watched CBBC’s Newsround at school.
“I just want to say congratulations on getting to the Euro 2020 final, you have played brilliantly,” reads the young Arsenal fan’s letter.
“I am a midfielder and hope I can be as good as you one day. I also hope I can be as brave as you one day. I think you were so brave to stand up and take the penalty.”
Charlie’s mother, Amy Taylor, said Saka is her son’s hero and it made her son so sad people were being horrible to the Arsenal midfielder.
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She said: “Charlie already knew quite a lot about racism and he realised it was directed at Saka, Sancho and Rashford because of the missed penalties.
“It really upset him that there are such horrible people in the world.
“I have had many conversations in the past with Charlie as like all of us, he doesn’t understand why racism even exists, our discussions have been more towards what he should do if he ever hears racist remarks.”
Saka, Rashford and Sancho were subjected to racist abuse after they all missed penalties in England’s defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
The incidents have led to an outpouring of support for the trio from members of the public.
Charlie was one of many young children who sent positive messages to the team following their defeat.
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