A League Two club are to investigate several ‘disgusting’ online comments made to a player of theirs over the weekend just gone.
One of the Scunthorpe United’s forward shared a screenshot via his Twitter account in which a Facebook user could be seen making a reference to the colour of his skin.
It came while discussing whether 22-year-old Olufela Olomola should be given a chance after spending last season on loan at Carlisle.
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The same person can be seen suggesting that they will “boo very loudly” if Scunthorpe players take a knee in support of Black Lives Matter when they return to action in September.
A club statement read: “Scunthorpe United has been made aware of comments made on social media this weekend. We stand with Olufela Olomola and anybody who has to suffer racism in any shape or form.
“They aren’t views shared by the club, and we will investigate and deal with those responsible. There is no excuse or justification for this disgusting behaviour.
“Reporting of discrimination or inappropriate behaviours can be made by emailing feedback@scunthorpe-united.co.uk.”
Back in June 2020, Olomola posted the caption on his Instagram: “I am a BLACK MAN!…… I build…. I don’t tear down other BLACK MEN! …. I have felt the pain of being torn down and I have decided I will be deliberate about building others! If I didn’t tag you , please don’t be offended. I tried to pick people I thought would do this challenge!! All too often , we men find it easier to criticise each other , instead of building each other up. With all the negativity going around let’s do something positive!! ? upload 1 picture of yourself … ONLY you. Then tag as many brothers to do the same. Lets build ourselves up , instead of tearing ourselves down. ?? COPY AND PASTE ?? #Blacklivesmatter #blackandproud✊?”
This is the latest in a growing number of footballers getting racist messages, comments, posts sent to them via social media, which had led to many males between the ages 13 and 20 getting arrested.
Just a week ago, two players from Luton Town and Derby County have been sent racist messages within the last week, joining many top flight footballers in receiving the same.
Derby County midfielder Duane Holmes called out the racist abuse which he discovered on social media following Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Stoke City on Wednesday.
In the tweet, which has since been deleted, Holmes posted a screenshot of racist abuse sent to him after he made jokes over Forest’s shock defeat to Stoke that saw them fall out of the play-off places in a dramatic finale to the Championship.
In his response, Holmes called on supporters to “keep the jokes civil” in the rivalry between the clubs.
The 25-year-old wrote: “Can’t even joke on Twitter without being called a ‘shit n****r’. I’m all for the banter, we have received a lot of it in my short time at Derby so far and I understand the rivalry between the two clubs, but please just keep the jokes civil. Ridiculous, man.”
Can’t even joke on twitter without being called a “shit n****r”. I’m all for the banter, we have received a lot of it in my short time at derby so far and I understand the rivalry between the two clubs but please just keep the jokes civil. Ridiculous man.
— Duane Holmes (@DuaneHolmes) July 23, 2020
A separate incident saw Hatters defender Peter Kioso racially abused on social media by a Hartlepool United supporter after celebrating Luton’s great escape.
He was doing a live video, however as he danced, a shocking comment popped up stating that he looked like a monkey.
Peter said in a tweet: “In 2020 seriously come on, a fan that used to sing my name wants to be doing this ??♂️ @Official_HUFC
“This happened on Wednesday night after the boys and I were celebrating such a big thing that we did and I was not going to let that ruin the moment but now that everything has calmed down I feel like I shed light on it to let everyone know how things still are in 2020!!”
In 2020 seriously come on, a fan that used to sing my name wants to be doing this??♂️ @Official_HUFC pic.twitter.com/gtUpzYOhVs
— PK (@P_kioso31) July 24, 2020
Two weeks ago, a Bristol City player suffered racist abuse on Twitter following his side’s defeat to Swansea City.
Famara Diedhiou tweeted a screenshot which showed a replied he received from social media user @Henry511_, which contained three banana emojis.
Why???? pic.twitter.com/1Oo5LCPsOJ
— Famara Diedhiou (@famara2001) July 18, 2020
The Robins wrote: “We stand with Famara Diédhiou and anybody who has to suffer racism in any shape or form.
“There is no excuse or justification for this disgusting behaviour.”
Teammate Andreas Weimann added: “Can we find and report this person please ?”
Wilfried Zaha vented out on Instagram after getting racist abuse. He’s called on the app to do more to catch the culprits.
“They’re stupid, racist cowards hiding behind accounts”
Wilfried Zaha wants changes to social media platforms to help prevent online racism
More: https://t.co/wdNC9zWvkt pic.twitter.com/22Ek0SEWqM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 14, 2020
The Premier League player took to Instagram Story to express how more needs to be done to get rid of the “stupid, racist cowards”.
It comes just two days after a 12-year-old boy was arrested for racially abusing the Crystal Palace forward on the same site.
Zaha said on a video, which can be seen above: “This is why I don’t tend to talk even though I get stupid racist messages everyday of my life – this is why I don’t talk.
“But the other day, I thought you know what, I’m going to out this person – it happened to be a 12-year-old.
“How can you have such hatred at 12? And send off those things.
“It doesn’t make a difference to me how old he is.
“Social platforms like Instagram, Twitter – to make a change for people not to be able to do this and be held accountable for the stuff they send.
“Everyone should put their proper details in…so I don’t get these messages.
“For all the kind, supportive stuff people have been saying, I want action. I want change.
“Unless people give their proper full details they should not be allowed to make an account because that is all cowards do.
“These stupid racist cowards…they hide behind accounts. We can put it everywhere, on the news, but it is going to carry on.
“Until these things are changed, then I don’t want to hear nothing man, I’m sorry.”
Zaha showed more vile racist messages sent to him, one read: “a n***** bragging about getting a wee lad arrested that’s a bit sad innit.”
Zaha also posted a series of screenshots which included the hate posts sent to him with his caption of ‘woke up to this today’ and the Instagram account ‘jackdolan_avfc’.
Two disgusting messages were mentioned, one on the Klu Klux Klan and another were threats to come to his house if he scores.
Zaha was told ‘you better not score tomorrow you black c**n before the poster added ‘or I’ll come to your house dressed as a ghost.’
A poster was also sent, showing a picture of a Klu Klux Klan gathering together, this is another threat, and another displaying an edited picture of a box of cornflakes, instead it had the words ‘c**nflakes’ across it and displayed a man with his face blacked up.
Crystal Palace tweeted how disgusted they were after seeing the horrifying abuse sent to their star player, prior to their trip to Villa Park.
‘This is an absolute disgrace and should not be happening,’ a club tweet stated.
‘We stand with you, Wilf, and anyone else who has to suffer such horrific abuse.’
Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick was also racially abused online, hours after Zaha suffered the same.
He took a screenshot of the abusive message he received, then uploaded it to his social media accounts, writing above it ‘2020 and this is life’.
The message was sent to him by ‘mma_notorious_mma’, it read: ‘You f****** dirty n*****. Your n***** life defo doesn’t matter. F*** you ya bold c*** WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU PLAYED MAURE [Manchester United] YOU F****** S*** APE.’
As a club we will support David McGoldrick and will do all we can to find the perpetrator of this disgusting message.
We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the person behind this post is brought to justice.
This cannot continue. Something needs to change. pic.twitter.com/z94kfClCCe
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 13, 2020
Fans reacted on social media after League Two club Scunthorpe say they are to investigate the ‘disgusting’ online comments made to their player. See those tweets below…
The best statement would be some sort of ban &/ or a sincere apology from the person involved. It not only deeply offends Olufela but I’m sure offends & embarrasses the vast majority of Iron fans & all at our club who will be also labelled racist by the football world.
— robert reczulski (@rreczulski) August 3, 2020
If Bradley Guest is not given a lifetime ban, I will refuse to attend a Scunthorpe game ever again.
— Chris Green (@ChrisGreen3397) August 2, 2020
It’s about fckin time that these people are properly taken to task
— Faithful Hatter (@FaithfulHatter) August 2, 2020
OMG!!! what an appalling thing to read from your so called “fans” I appreciated all your hard work on the pitch for Carlisle. Good luck ?
— Tracy Sturgess (@tracy_sturgess) August 2, 2020
This is vile, abhorrent and not in anyway representative of the majority of our fans. Sadly it is still an accurate reflection of a small minority who persist in overtly racist behaviour within society. Still a lot to do, but we all need to challenge such views . Apologies .
— Martin Davies (@motiv8222) August 2, 2020
The last bit of this tweet needs repeating a million times. Excellent comment pal.
— Jamie Morgan (@JamieMorgan1989) August 2, 2020
The 8 ‘likes’ bother me just as much on the last comment. We say it’s a minority when it happens at any club but it’s often a very vocal minority who enable each other which in turn encourages others then you’re stuck in a vicious cycle. No excuses at all for stuff like this.
— BernadetteMalcolmson (@m155_bem) August 2, 2020
‘Black lad’… ?
Couldn’t be respectful enough to learn his name… #BrexitBritain— Swindonian (@SouthCoastRed) August 2, 2020
He’s one very sour individual with that sort of disgusting comment. 99.99% of our fans HATE things like this. Hope @SUFCOfficial take action. If someone wants to call me a grass go for it. Racism in any form IS NOT ACCEPTABLE and it’s not a debate.
— Jamie Morgan (@JamieMorgan1989) August 2, 2020
Disgusting behaviour which I hope you have reported, A) we want rid of racism full stop, shouldn’t make any difference what colour your skin is, everyone is equal to me as long as they abide the rules and laws of the country B) regarding any other it is between Club and player.
— Michael Kent (@Mistertonmick73) August 2, 2020
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