Gary Neville has accused Boris Johnson of 'promoting racism' after the Prime Minister condemned the abuse directed at England's players following their penalty shoot-out defeat by Italy.
Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho were racially abused on social media after all three players missed their penalties, which saw Italy crowned Euro 2020 champions at Wembley.
Johnson added his voice to those condemning the social media abuse on Monday morning with a tweet which read: 'This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.
'Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.'
But Neville insisted the Prime Minister has been part of the problem.
He told Sky Sports: 'The taking of the knee over the last month, when the players tried to explain it was to promote equality and be against racism, was ridiculed by our top-ranking government officials.
Gary Neville has accused Boris Johnson of 'promoting racism' after government officials 'ridiculed' players for taking a knee during Euro 2020
In a tweet Mr Johnson condemned the abuse England's players received on social media
'So when we get racist abuse at the end of a football match, at the end of a tournament, I expect it, unfortunately, because it exists and it's actually promoted by the Prime Minister.
'I knew the minute that Bukayo Saka, Rashford and Sancho missed last night, I knew we would be waking up this morning to headlines of racist abuse.'
England players took a knee throughout the tournament to promote equality and reject racism and discrimination of any kind. However, they were booed by some sections of the crowd on each occasion.
When players were first jeered during a warm-up game with Austria, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman repeatedly refused to condemn fans.
Bukayo Saka was subjected to racist abuse on social media after missing a penalty against Italy
Racists have bombarded Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jordan Sancho with abhorrent abuse after the trio missed their penalties during the Euro 2020 final
Racists took to Twitter with vile slurs after the Euro 2020 match ended in disappointment for millions of England fans
Johnson eventually told supporters not to boo players but has previously said he is opposed to taking the knee on grounds that he prefers actions to gestures.
Neville spoke to Sky News in another interview and made reference to Johnson's past comments about Muslim women.
'He said Muslim women look like letterboxes,' Neville said. 'Should we not be highlighting this more often?
'Gareth Southgate and Boris Johnson are absolutely poles apart. If you look at Boris Johnson, every time he speaks, and this is nothing to do with Tory Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, I really am disenfranchised and disconnected
