Euro 2020: Luis Enrique urges police to deal with 'severe' threats to Morata

Last week, Morata said people had threatened his family and shouted "I hope your children die" at him before Wednesday's 5-0 win over Slovakia.

Published : Jun 28, 2021 00:03 IST , COPENHAGEN

Morata said his friends had been alerting him to the abuse he had been getting on social media which led to him leaving his phone outside his room.
Morata said his friends had been alerting him to the abuse he had been getting on social media which led to him leaving his phone outside his room.
lightbox-info

Morata said his friends had been alerting him to the abuse he had been getting on social media which led to him leaving his phone outside his room.

Spain coach Luis Enrique said the police should look into threats made to Alvaro Morata and his family during the European Championship, describing the treatment the striker had faced as "a serious crime".

Morata has been booed by his side's supporters before and during the tournament. Last week he said people had threatened his family and shouted "I hope your children die" at him before Wednesday's 5-0 win over Slovakia.

"It is so severe that it should be put in the hands of police," Luis Enrique told reporters ahead of Spain's last 16 game against Croatia on Monday in Copenhagen.

"Threatening anyone, but especially someone's family and children, is a serious crime."

Morata said his friends had been alerting him to the abuse he had been getting on social media which led to him leaving his phone outside his room. He also said he had a sleepless night after the Slovakia game, in which he missed a penalty.

READ: Euro 2020: Spain's Morata reveals social media abuse, threats to family

Spain midfielder Koke agreed that action needed to be taken against the perpetrators.

"As players, we're obviously exposed to all types of criticism, we accept that - but we can't accept threats towards children and family," he said.

"Everyone is responsible for what they say and do and we have to denounce all acts of harassment... Involving children and family is crossing the line and should be denounced."

After winning one of its three group matches in Seville, Spain can expect an improved surface at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium and perhaps less pressure from its own supporters, who occasionally got on the players' backs - although Koke said he would have preferred to have kept playing in Seville.

Croatia will be playing without experienced forward Ivan Perisic, who will miss the game after testing positive for COVID-19, which Koke described as "a big loss (for Croatia) but not definitive".

READ: Euro 2020: Morata singled out as Spain struggles to score

The Croatians will, however, be able to count on Luka Modric, one of the outstanding midfielders in Spain in the last decade and a frequent thorn in Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke's side in duels against Modric's Real Madrid.

"Everyone knows Modric, he has done great things with Real Madrid, he's won the Ballon d'Or and been decisive for Croatia. Croatia's midfield is their main asset, and it's going to be a great battle in the middle of the pitch," he added.

"We'll have to pay special attention to him and ensure they see the ball as little as possible - and we want to see a lot of it to create chances and score goals."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment