Manchester City have released a strong statement supporting Kyle Walker after the player revealed he was subjected to vile racist abuse online following the team’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus. Walker has called for stronger action from social media platforms and authorities to tackle such hate.
DETAILS:
Kyle Walker, a key player for Manchester City, exposed a hateful message he received on Instagram in the aftermath of Wednesday’s loss. Sharing a screenshot of the abusive message (with the user’s identity hidden), Walker highlighted the persistence of racial discrimination in football and beyond.
In his post, Walker wrote:
“No-one should ever be subject to the sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse I have received online since last night’s match. @instagram and the authorities need to stop this happening for the sake of all who are suffering this abuse. It is never acceptable. To our fans, we will continue to work as a team to do better, to improve, and to turn the corner together.”
Manchester City issued a statement expressing outrage over the abuse and confirming their support for Walker:
“Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse that Kyle Walker was subject to online following last night’s fixture. We refuse to tolerate discrimination of any kind, regardless of whether that be in stadiums or online. We will be offering Kyle our full support following the disgusting treatment he has received.”
QUOTES:
Kyle Walker: “No-one should ever be subject to this sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse… Authorities need to stop this happening.”
Man City: “We refuse to tolerate discrimination of any kind… offering Kyle our full support.”
CITATIONS:
Walker’s Instagram post addressing the abuse.
Manchester City’s official statement released Thursday.
Fan reactions across social media.
KEEP IN MIND:
Walker is not only a cornerstone of Manchester City, with 315 appearances and 17 trophies to his name, but also a seasoned international with 93 England caps. The incident highlights the ongoing struggle against racism in football, emphasizing the need for more robust actions by governing bodies and social media platforms to protect players from such unacceptable behavior.
