Feb 21 โ€ข 22:56 UTC ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ด Norway Aftenposten

Subjected to racism after expulsion

Chelsea's Wesley Fofana faced racial abuse on social media following his red card during a match.

The recent expulsion of Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana during a match has sparked a wave of racist comments on social media aimed at the player. Following the incident, Chelsea FC publicly condemned the racist attacks, stating they are 'disgusted' by such behavior and reaffirming their zero-tolerance policy towards racism. The club's statement followed Fofana's own social media posts, where he shared screenshots of the abusive messages he received, which included offensive monkey emojis and derogatory references.

Fofana's experience was not isolated, as Burnleyโ€™s midfielder Hannibal Mejbri also reported receiving similar hateful messages after the same match, highlighting a troubling trend in football-related racism. In a poignant response, Fofana expressed his frustration over the recurrence of such incidents, questioning the effectiveness of campaigns against racism in the sport. He pointed out that despite awareness efforts, the absence of serious consequences for perpetrators allows these abusive behaviors to persist.

This situation underscores the ongoing challenges within sports regarding racial abuse and the need for stronger actions and enforceable consequences to combat racism effectively. The incidents have prompted wider discussions about the responsibilities of clubs, social media platforms, and governing bodies to create a safer environment for players and fans alike, ensuring that measures against racism translate into real change on and off the field.

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