Police investigate abuse sent to Callum Robinson as he makes shock Covid claim

Police investigate abuse sent to West Brom player Callum Robinson as he makes a shock Covid claim and it’s not going down well.

The 26 year old Republic of Ireland international has admitted he has chosen not to be vaccinated against the coronavirus despite being twice laid low by the virus.

He had already missed games for his country as a close contact, first testing positive in November last year and then again in August, meaning he had to sit out last month’s World Cup Qualifiers against Portugal, Azerbaijan and Serbia.

Robinson looks ready for Saturday’s qualifier in Baku, but just days after Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp expressed his exasperation with Premier League players who have not been double-jabbed, he has spoken of his decision not to do so.

Asked if he had been vaccinated, he replied: “I haven’t been vaccinated, no. That’s my choice at this moment in time.

“It’s obviously annoying that I’ve caught it twice but I haven’t been vaccinated. Further down the line I could change my mind and want to do it, but at this moment in time I haven’t been vaccinated, no.”

Asked why, he added: “I just haven’t, I just haven’t done it. I think it’s your personal choice and my choice at this moment in time, I haven’t been vaccinated.

“I know, as you said, there are managers and people that will want you to do it, which is right in their way, the way they think, but everyone has their choice on what they want to do.

“I wouldn’t force people to do it, it’s your choice and your body.”

Robinson has declined to discuss his reasons and continues to be tested regularly along with his teammates, though he isn’t the only member of the Ireland squad not to have been vaccinated, with manager Stephen Kenny, who has seen his reign to date repeatedly disrupted by coronavirus, confirming several players are in the same situation.

However, Kenny, who has had both jabs, admitted it could be a step too far to select only those who were covered despite U21s boss Jim Crawford having had to leave seven UK and Germany-based players out of his squad for a trip to Montenegro, which is on the red list of both countries.

He said: “Well, I think it would be quite a radical viewpoint to just say, ‘Right, whoever is not vaccinated is not being selected in the future’.

“I’m not aware of anybody who has done this in any sport at the moment, so for me to just come and decide that would be extremely radical.

“I was very happy to be [vaccinated] myself and encouraged staff and players. Of course it seems like the most sensible thing to do, and the safest with regard to our environment.

“There are a lot of myths and a lot of issues around virility that people are concerned about and other issues, you know, and I do think it is complex. I am not a medical expert, but I do trust the experts and I do think it is better to be double-vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police and Derbyshire Police are now investigating the online racist abuse sent to Callum Robinson.

On the 3rd of April, Robinson was sent monkey emojis on Instagram in reply to a post after scoring twice in West Brom’s 5-2 Premier League win at Chelsea.

Robinson screen-grabbed and highlighted the messages in an Instagram story and the West Midlands club reported the abuse to the authorities.

Police have now transferred the investigation to their counterparts in London and Derbyshire, with both forces telling Sky Sports News on Tuesday their inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage.

In April, Instagram removed one account and a number of offensive comments after Robinson was abused on the platform.

Fast forward to today and police investigate abuse sent to Callum Robinson as he makes a shock Covid claim…

@simonhancock_uk: I’ve heard that he’s done his own research and that research will be published in a respected scientific journal any day now.

@BrightEyesMoose: It is his right to say he doesn’t want the jab. Not sure why this is news tbh. Hardly sports related!

@mal_theakstone: I’d drop him. If he has so little consideration for his teammates and staff then he’s not much of an asset to the group

@nickhornbee: It my personal choice to think that Callum is not very smart. Further down the line I could change my mind and think he *is* very smart. But right now that’s my choice.

@james_flynn: I’m sure Callum Robinson has done more research from his home than the army of scientists around the world who developed a range of effective vaccines building on decades of experience fighting other deadly viruses. I’m so sure. 🤨

@stephenhayden: Well done to Callum Robinson in being so open about his stupidity, twice. First by not getting the vaccine and second for telling everyone he didn’t get a vaccine.

@barstoolers: Wouldn’t be the first time Callum Robinson has missed a shot, to be fair.

@JoeCaldwell386: Callum Robinson, a man who has caught covid twice, refusing to be vaccinated. Makes me almost glad we swapped him for the disused runaway mine train theme park ride that is Oliver Burke

@MartinAgnew7: No wonder we’ve had a load of problems with Covid under Kenny with an attitude like. Of course it’s his own choice to get it or not but players who won’t get it by choice shouldn’t be in the squad.

@EDJ147_: He shouldn’t be allowed to play for Ireland then.

@MattLegg42: Sorry but I feel that’s selfish to others. It’s about protecting others as well as yourself.

@KmBriste: Wilful ignorance, he should be dropped from the squad until he gets his priorities right

@MissLouiseMcnu1: What an idiotic young man.

@CurtisYxtes: Man gets it twice, still won’t get vaccinated, I see some footballers are still thick as fuck then.

@MarkHemi82: The #PremierLeague and #EFL should make it mandatory for ALL footballers to have the Covid vaccine. No jab = banned from playing. #NoJabNoJob

@AlanLov67004042: With all the facts I can’t see why he won’t get the vaccine to protect himself and other people.

@CFC_hysn: Didn’t think I could dislike this man any more, yet here we are

@King_Ben_White: Mindblowing from an industry where half the players are regularly on all sorts of meds and supplements they are told to take on a regular basis by scientists, and they wont listen when it really matters.

@Ferneylfc85: Fair play to him. Can’t force it on people. If you want it fine. If you don’t fine.

@DManxer: If he doesn’t want to take it then his choice but he should keep that to himself as he could be influencing people who look up to him. Personally I think that it is a daft decision as someone who had to shield throughout and should be getting the booster in the next week or two.

@joshwbWBA: I love Callum, but that is a truly selfish decision, getting vaccinated isn’t just about helping yourself, it helps everyone. Can’t support that at all, however CR7 is still one of my favourite people in football, and ultimately it is his choice.