Estate agent Savills suspends employee over racist tweet after England defeat

Firm says it ‘is appalled by the racist comments in these tweets’ following England’s defeat to Italy at Euro 2020 final

An estate agent has suspended an employee over racist comments which have been circulating on Twitter.

A man based in Manchester, who has since hidden his account, was the author of a highly-circulated racist tweet after England lost the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.

When social media users brought this to the attention of the man’s employer, the UK-based estate agent Savills, the company responded by launching an investigation into the comments.

A spokesperson for Savills told The Independent: “Savills abhors and has zero tolerance to any form of racism and racial discrimination and is appalled by the racist comments in these tweets. Savills is immediately investigating and will take appropriate action.”

The company later tweeted that the employee has been suspended, but that the man claims his account was taken over by a third party.

“Savills has acted swiftly and confirms that the individual is suspended from duty pending the findings of this investigation, which is being processed as a priority,” the company said.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “GMP has received complaints about a social media post following the Italy v England Euro 2020 final at Wembley yesterday (11 July).

“Reports from across the UK are being collated by United Kingdom Football Policing Unit and the Metropolitan Police and will then be allocated to the relevant forces for further investigation if required.”

The comments came after England lost the Euro 2020 final after the game went to a penalty shootout.

Since then, three players in particular, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, have been subjected to racist abuse on social media after they each missed a penalty.

The comments have been condemned by Prince William, Boris Johnson and the England manager Gareth Southgate, who said the racist abuse directed at the players was “unforgivable.”

The FA also condemned the racist abuse, saying: “We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.”

The Metropolitan Police said it is investigating the “unacceptable” abuse.