PIERS Morgan today announced he wants to spearhead a campaign to fine vile racists £100,000 for each offensive social media post.
The Good Morning Britain host, 55, said the tough measure would see incidents stop within a month.
Speaking after footballer Marcus Rashford was subject to disgusting abuse over the weekend, Piers raged: “These racist yobs, thugs, criminals – I would imagine in some cases – start finding out who they are.
“Social media should have an obligation for real name, real pic, and workplace so we all know who each other is, not some anonymous egg or smiley face.
“When we catch these people, take them to court and fine them £100,000 each time there is vile racist abuse. Let me tell you, it stops in a month. Why should footballers be subject to this abuse? It’s disgusting.”
Piers cited the Australian approach to racists, where hate speech is met with a maximum penalty of $10,000.
Prince William has also called for an end to “despicable” abuse of footballers.
He said: “Racist abuse – whether on the pitch, in the stands, or on social media – is despicable and it must stop now.
“We all have a responsibility to create an environment where such abuse is not tolerated, and those who choose to spread hate and division are held accountable for their actions.”
Police are investigating louts who trolled Manchester United star Marcus with racist messages on social media.
School meals hero Rashford, 23, revealed he was hit with a string of abusive slurs about his skin colour on Instagram on Saturday following his side’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
I’m not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them. I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated.
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021
The England striker – who earned an MBE for his work towards ending food poverty – tweeted: “I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am.
“No-one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different.
“So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here.
“I’m not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them.
“I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated.”
The abuse followed United’s Axel Tuanzebe, 23, and Anthony Martial, 24, both being trolled by racists after the club’s defeat by Sheffield United on Wednesday.
One comment on Tuanzebe’s Instagram account read ‘DAMNNN N*****’ as well as several monkey emojis on a photograph of his United shirt and number, posted two weeks ago.
On Sunday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) blasted the online hate and said it was investigating the crimes after the comments were reported to them.
#STATEMENT | GMP statement regarding a number of hate comments made online towards football players. We will continue to take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously. pic.twitter.com/j6hSvjkBGR
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) January 31, 2021
More shocking revelations today from @MarcusRashford on the scale of racist abuse online
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) January 31, 2021
That’s why I organised a roundtable with footballers on mon to discuss how we can use the upcoming Online Harms legislation to tackle this scourge
We must not & will not tolerate this pic.twitter.com/wM2DepPgiY
A spokesman said: “Nobody should be subject to such abuse and it is deeply upsetting not only to those who suffer it, but to all those who come across this awful language too.
“These hateful words have no place anywhere in our society whether online or otherwise.
“A number of these comments have been reported to us and we are liaising with those involved to provide support and we will be investigating these crimes thoroughly.”
The police investigation was launched less than a week after it emerged Facebook, Instagram and Twitter will be fined over footballer abuse if they fail to protect them under tough new rules.
After the abuse emerged on Saturday, Match of the Day legend Ian Wright fumed on the show: “It seems to be a fad now, a black player plays poorly or think they played poorly and they come with all the emojis.
“There’s ways of doing it. There’s ways of being able to catch people but I don’t think they’re vigilant enough, nowhere near.”
Fellow pundit Jermaine Jenas added: “It’s accountability. In my opinion, the platforms that be, whether it’s Instagram or Twitter, I need them to show me these people.
“That will tell me they are doing enough, doing everything they possibly can.”
Host Gary Lineker also said it should be a law for social media companies to tackle racial abusers and Wright was in agreement.
He said: “It should be a law as well. It’s something they should be doing hand-in-hand. How much do they care deep down?”
The attack on the United stars came less than 24 hours after Chelsea right-back Reece James was racially abused on social media.
He later posted on Instagram: “Human is our only race!”
