FA calls for Government action as racist abuse of footballers on social media continues: ‘Enough is enough’

Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe has been subjected to more racist abuse online
Manchester United via Getty Images
George Flood8 February 2021

The Football Association (FA) have urged the Government and social media companies to act swiftly after yet more instances of footballers being subjected to racist abuse online.

Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe was sent more vile comments on Instagram after Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw against Everton at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Romaine Sawyers and Alex Jankewitz are other players to have been targeted online over recent weeks, while Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has also revealed the extent of the abuse he has received on social media.

The FA have previously strongly condemned the racist abuse of footballers, while last month Prince William - who has served as FA president since 2005 - demanded an immediate end to the "despicable" abuse.

Taking to social media on Sunday evening, the FA wrote: "It has been yet another weekend where players are facing discriminatory abuse and having to deal with anonymous keyboard warriors who hide in a world of impunity. At The FA, we believe that enough is enough.

"We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.

"Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse.

"We stand with Lauren James, Axel Tuanzebe and every victim of discrimination in all its forms. It's time for change."

The Online Safety Bill is set to be introduced by the Government this year and earlier this month Ministers held a roundtable with current and former footballers, who detailed the abhorrent abuse they had received online.

"The online racist abuse of footballers is absolutely shocking and must stop. In advance of this recent spate of cases, I heard first hand accounts of the daily abuse players get and the awful toll it takes on them," said Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.

"We are going to change the law to make social media companies more accountable for what happens on their platforms, and they can start showing their duty of care to players today by weeding out racist abuse now. Players must not be abused for doing their jobs - enough is enough.”

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