Metropolitan Police are investigating online racist abuse of Bukayo Saka
Metropolitan Police confirm they are investigating online racist abuse of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka following the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with West Ham at the weekend after the England winger missed a vital penalty
- A post on social media that appears to have racist connotations after the draw
- The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the report and are investigating the matter
- Bukayo Saka was subjected to racist abuse after a missed penalty at Euro 2020
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are investigating an allegedly racist social media post targeting Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
Saka, 21, missed a penalty as Arsenal drew 2-2 at West Ham on Sunday and a tweet was posted shortly after the final whistle: ‘This clown cost us the league’.
Accompanying the caption was a photo of Saka made to look like a monkey. The account that allegedly posted the tweet initially appears to have been deactivated, but another user posted a screenshot.
“Let’s find out who this piece of shit is and give him an old-fashioned hitch,” the user tweeted alongside the original tweet’s grip.
Below that, another user tagged the Metropolitan Police account and said they wanted to report the original tweet as a hate crime.
Bukayo Saka has again fallen victim to racist abuse on social media after missing a penalty
The 21-year-old missed a penalty as Arsenal drew 2-2 against West Ham on Sunday afternoon
“This has already been reported and is currently being investigated, thank you” replied the Met.
Speak against The athletic this week former Arsenal striker Ian Wright offered his unequivocal support to Saka and urged the club to do the same.
“He’ll always be our star boy, no matter what,” he said. “He has my unequivocal support and I would expect everyone around Arsenal to do the same.
‘Vocal support is important. I want him to know that we will always rally around him. Check out our fans on Friday night.
‘He’s going to feel the love, I can tell you that. Despite what he has been through, he has continued to take responsibility. He can do that again. He has greatness. Just go again, Bukayo.’
It is not the first time in his relatively young career that he has been subjected to alleged racist abuse, with Saka facing several assaults following his missed penalty in the Euro 2020 final.
Last year, a FIFA-commissioned report on social media abuse targeting players found that Saka were the two most abused players alongside Marcus Rashford after the Euro 2020 final nearly two years ago.
Alongside Jadon Sancho, who also received streams of rabid abuse, missed the two decisive penalties as England were beaten by Italy in the final at Wembley.
Both Rashford and Saka received more than 80 abusive messages, most of them racist. Saka received about 120 abusive messages, more than 60 of which were racist.
Ian Wright called on Arsenal to support ‘starboy’ Saka after his miss at the weekend
Meanwhile, of the 80 abusive posts targeting Rashford, about 50 were racially motivated.
Sancho’s insults appeared to be largely homophobic, making up a large majority of the approximately 18 insults sent to him.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at the time: “It is our duty to protect football, and it starts with the players who bring us all so much joy and happiness through their heroics on the pitch.
“Unfortunately, a trend is emerging where a percentage of posts on social media channels targeting players, coaches, match officials and the teams themselves is not acceptable, and this form of discrimination – like any form of discrimination – has no place in the football. .’
