Tolu Arokodare: Wolves striker sent racist abuse on social media

Wolverhampton Wanderers, commonly known as Wolves, have expressed their disgust after their striker, Tolu Arokodare, was subjected to racist abuse on social media from multiple individuals following the team’s 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The Nigerian forward, who had a penalty saved in the first half of the match, along with the club, shared screenshots of the offensive private messages he received through social media platforms. This incident adds to a recent spate of racial abuse aimed at footballers, highlighting a persistent problem within the sport and online communities.

Just one day prior to Arokodare’s case, Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri and Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana were both targets of racist abuse on Instagram after their respective teams played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Arokodare himself voiced his disbelief at how such blatant racism can still occur in today’s world, criticizing the lack of consequences for those behind these hateful messages. He emphasized the need for collective action to punish anyone who tarnishes the sport through such behavior, insisting that these individuals should have no place within football.

Wolves issued a strong statement condemning the abuse, declaring that racism has no place in football or anywhere in society. They assured full support for Tolu Arokodare, condemning those who direct hatred at players for simply performing their jobs. The club has reported the offensive content to social media platforms and is cooperating with the Premier League and relevant authorities to identify the perpetrators and ensure appropriate measures are taken. Wolves reiterated their zero-tolerance stance on all forms of discrimination.

This wave of racist abuse follows other recent high-profile cases in football. Earlier, Fofana criticized the ineffective response to racism despite widespread anti-racism campaigns, while Mejbri called for education to combat such attitudes. Other incidents include the abuse directed at Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, which UEFA is currently investigating. The Premier League condemned the abuse targeting Fofana and Mejbri, warning that individuals found guilty of discrimination face severe consequences including club bans and legal action. Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out highlighted the need for social media companies to do more in protecting players and ensuring accountability, while Meta stated their ongoing efforts to remove racist content and cooperate with police investigations. The issue remains a significant challenge for football as a whole, with multiple players across leagues continuing to endure online racial abuse

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