England defender Tyrone Mings has accused the UK Home Secretary of stoking racist hatred aimed at his teammates.
After missing penalties in the shootout which ended Euro 2020, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have all been subjected to online racist abuse.
Meanwhile, a mural depicting Rashford in Manchester was also sprayed with racist graffiti.
Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson outwardly condemned the abuse on Monday, but after both had earlier in the summer failed to condemn booing of players taking the knee.
"I just don’t support people participating in that type of gesture, gesture politics, to a certain extent, as well," Patel told GB News in June.
“It’s all well to support a cause and make your voices heard."
At the time, Mings accused Patel of being two-faced, but on Monday he went in even harder.
"You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens," the Aston Villa player tweeted.
You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens. https://t.co/fdTKHsxTB2
— Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) July 12, 2021
Earlier he said, "Waking up today and seeing my brothers being racially abused for being brave enough to put themselves in a position to help this country, is something that sickens, but doesn’t surprise me.
"We have literally made history. We’ve gone where no one else has gone. Take that in."
Former England defender Gary Neville took a similar view while speaking to Sky News on Monday morning.
He said, "I’ve just seen your breaking news and it says ‘the PM condemns racist abuse of England players.'” Is that the same Prime Minister who only a few weeks ago...
“It starts at the very top. So I was not surprised in the slightest to wake up to those headlines. I felt it would happen the moment the three players that missed, missed.
"There is an issue in society and in football that it is acceptable to criticise players for sporting actions for the colour of their skin.
"Accepting and validating that players who take the knee to promote equality and against racism, it is coming from the top.
"You know full well that if your parents do something, your children will follow.”
"It starts at the very top."
Former footballer @GNev2 says has called on Boris Johnson to take a tougher stance on racism in football after some England players received abuse online following last night's clash with Italy.#Euro2020: https://t.co/KUBv2VLGWI pic.twitter.com/VoJPtslaaP— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 12, 2021
Neville added,“He (Johnson) said Muslim women looked like letterboxes. Should we not be highlighting this sort of thing more often?
"Honestly, Gareth Southgate and Boris Johnson are poles apart. You can be a leader and be a gentlemen. You can be ruthless and have empathy and compassion.
"Gareth over these last few weeks, every time he has come on, he has talked with dignity, it is genuine and it is passionate.
“He connects with the people of this country, and yet when I hear some MPs speak I am like, ‘what is happening here? How can I vote for these people?’
“Gareth Southgate, throughout his life, has carried himself brilliantly as an individual. And it demonstrates you can be a gentleman and have standards and that you can also lead.”
The Newsround | Victory for Italy, England’s heartbreak & forceful fans
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