Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland have condemned the racist abuse their players have suffered on social media following their defeats in the English Premier League, confirming they are taking official action to prosecute those responsible.
In a statement released on the club’s official website from Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton expressed its deep dismay at the abusive messages targeting its striker, Tolo Arroukoudari, after the team’s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
The statement read that the club “stands firmly behind the player and all footballers who have to endure such abuse from anonymous accounts operating with apparent impunity,” confirming that it has notified the relevant authorities and platforms to take the necessary measures.
In a separate statement released on the club’s official website from Sunderland, northern England, Sunderland announced its condemnation of the racist messages directed at its winger, Romain Mondel, following its 3-1 loss to Fulham. The club confirmed it is cooperating with authorities to identify those responsible for the messages, emphasizing that “the abhorrent behavior displayed by a number of individuals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club under any circumstances.”
These incidents come less than 24 hours after similar attacks targeting players at other clubs, highlighting once again the persistent problem of racist abuse online, despite repeated campaigns to combat it within English football.
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