Southampton accuse Twitter and Instagram of allowing ‘hatred to breed and fester’ as the club report racist messages sent to Kyle Walker-Peters to the police, after the full-back was targeted following their goalless draw at Man United
- Kyle Walker-Peters was targeted by a string of racist comments on Instagram
- Former Saints midfielder Alex Jankewitz received similar abuse two years ago
- Southampton criticsed social media companies for a lack of meaningful action
Southampton have reported a string of online racist messages sent to Kyle Walker-Peters to the police and hit out at social media companies ‘who allow such hatred to breed and fester.’
Defender Walker-Peters was targeted on Instagram following Southampton’s goalless draw at Manchester United and the sickening comments still remained underneath one of his posts on Monday morning.
Former Southampton midfielder Alex Jankewitz was similarly subjected to racist abuse after being sent off at Old Trafford two years ago.
Southampton, who have been in contact with Instagram on Monday morning, said in a statement: ‘In February 2021 the club made a statement about one of our young players receiving abhorrent racial abuse following a match against Manchester United.
‘More than two years on, we find ourselves in the exact same position: disgusted and disappointed in the behaviour of those online who lower themselves to abusing players for the colour of their skin.
Kyle Walker-Peters was targeted online after Southampton’s draw with Manchester United
Southampton have reported the messages to police and criticised social media companies
Former Southampton midfielder Alex Jankewitz was also the victim of abuse two years ago
‘What is equally frustrating is the lack of meaningful action in those two years from the social media platforms who allow such hatred to breed and fester.
‘As we have said before, Southampton Football Club fights every day to remove such people from our sport and our community in order to protect our players, our staff, Southampton fans and those football supporters around the world who recognise and celebrate the diversity that makes football special.
‘We have forwarded the messages concerned to Hampshire Police in keeping with our normal processes when dealing with these cases.
‘We have also reported these posts to the social media platforms involved.
‘We can only hope that they finally pay attention to what continues to be a major problem and that we do not find ourselves repeating these words in another two years’ time.’
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