Premier League Players Targeted with Racist Abuse

Published February 23, 2026, 5:35 p.m.

Four Premier League players, including Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, were subjected to racist abuse on social media this weekend. British police have launched an investigation into the online attacks.

Investigation Launched After Online Abuse

Wesley Fofana, after being sent off during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Burnley, received a barrage of racist messages on Instagram. The French international shared screenshots of the abuse, which included insults comparing him to “a monkey” and calling for him to be “position in a zoo.”

Tunisian international Hannibal Mejbri, who plays for Manchester United, as well as Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle and Wolverhampton’s Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare, were also targeted with racist messages on Sunday.

Police Condemnation and Action

Mark Roberts, head of the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), stated, “There is absolutely no place for racist abuse, whether online or in person, and those who think they can hide behind their keyboard should think again.” He affirmed the UKFPU’s commitment to identifying and bringing those responsible to justice.

Roberts noted that convictions have been secured in recent months against individuals guilty of online racism, resulting in “significant stadium bans.” However, he acknowledged that “much remains to be done” to combat the issue.

Political Response

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the racism as “odious.”

Meta’s Response

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, stated it would continue efforts to protect users from abuse. A spokesperson said, “No one should be exposed to racist abuse, and we remove this content when we find it.” They acknowledged that eliminating racist behavior is an ongoing process and pledged continued cooperation with police investigations.

Meta also stated they will continue to work to protect their community from abuse.