Toulouse Midfielder Pape Demba Diop Subjected to Racist Abuse After Coupe de France Victory

Toulouse midfielder Pape Demba Diop has been targeted with racist messages on social media following his team’s victory over Olympique de Marseille in the Coupe de France quarter-final on Wednesday, March 5, 2026. The club has condemned the abuse and expressed its full support for the player.

Qualification and Subsequent Abuse

Toulouse secured their place in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France after defeating Marseille 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the Vélodrome. Diop scored his penalty during the shootout and celebrated by mimicking the signature gesture of Marseille rapper Jul, which prompted a backlash of racist abuse directed at him online.

Club Condemnation and Support

Toulouse swiftly responded to the attacks, releasing a statement on Thursday, March 6, 2026, denouncing the racist messages as “intolerable and totally unacceptable.” The club affirmed its unwavering support for Diop and condemned all forms of racism and discrimination. “The entire club and its community would like to express their full support in the face of these intolerable and totally unacceptable attacks,” the club stated on X (formerly Twitter). Lequipe

Player Shares Abuse

Diop himself shared one of the particularly vile messages he received on Snapchat, revealing a direct message containing deeply offensive and racist language. France3 Regions

Diop’s Impact and Upcoming Match

Diop joined Toulouse on loan from RC Strasbourg in January 2026 and has quickly become an critical member of the team. He is expected to feature in Toulouse’s Ligue 1 match against Marseille this Saturday. Le Parisien