An investigation has been launched after several football clubs reported online racial abuse of their players over the weekend.
The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) said it had received four seperate reports of incidents against Premier League players in the last three days.
Sky News is aware of six incidents of racial abuse against footballers across the UK’s football leagues – including the Scottish Premiership – from Friday to Sunday.
Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri were racially abused on Instagram after the clubs played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Meta has removed the accounts and messages behind the abuse of both players, while Lancashire Constabulary said it was working with the club and the UKFPU to investigate further.
In a statement, Chelsea said they were “appalled and disgusted” by the abuse, and that it stands “unequivocally with Wes”.
Burnley said it was “disgusted by the online racist abuse directed at Hannibal following today’s Premier League fixture”, adding: “There is no place for this in our society, and we condemn it unreservedly.”
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Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare was also racially abused on Instagram after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The club took the step of publishing the uncensored racist posts to name the accounts on their website, and reported the incident to Meta and the West Midlands Police.
Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle deactivated his Instagram account after also being sent racist abuse, following the club’s 1-3 defeat to Fulham on Sunday.
The Wearside club said it has reported the abuse to Meta and the relevant authorities, and said: “The abhorrent behaviour displayed by multiple individuals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club under any circumstances.”
Meanwhile, two Rangers players – centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez and winger Djeidi Gassama – were racially abused on Instagram following a 2-2 draw at Livingston.
Both players appeared to have been abused by the same social media account user.
Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UKFPU, said: “There is absolutely no place for racial abuse, either online or in person, and anyone who believes they can hide behind their keyboards should think again.
“The UKFPU condemns this abhorrent behaviour and we will ensure that, through our dedicated team of officers, we do everything possible to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
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The Premier League also condemned the abuse of the players, and said: “There are serious consequences for anybody found guilty of discrimination and we will offer our full support with their investigations.
“Football is for everyone – there is no room for racism.”
UK charity Kick It Out repeated calls for social media platforms to do more to address the problem, adding that “the sad fact is, we know it [racial abuse] happens regularly”.
“The message from them is loud and clear: action must follow,” it added. “Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behaviour, and nor should anyone else.”
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The abuse comes after Gianluca Prestianni was provisionally suspended by UEFA for Benfica’s Champions League game against Real Madrid on Wednesday following allegations he racially abused Vinicius Junior.
The 20-year-old was banned for one match, while an investigation into alleged racism directed at the Real Madrid forward continues.
Last week’s Champions League knockout round play-off first leg at the Estadio da Luz in Portugal was stopped for 11 minutes early in the second half, after the Brazilian forward told the referee he suffered racial abuse.
