Manchester City player Kyle Walker has called for action to prevent racist abuse on social media after experiencing it himself following his side’s Champions League defeat to Juventus on Wednesday.
Walker, the right defender for Pep Guardiola’s team, posted a screenshot on his social media accounts on Thursday, showing a message he received on Instagram from an anonymous user, containing death threats and racist comments.
“No one should have to endure this vile, racist and threatening abuse that I received after last night’s game,” Walker wrote on his X and Instagram accounts.
The 34-year-old urged Instagram and authorities to “put an end to this situation for the sake of everyone who suffers such abuse. This is never acceptable.”
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He also took the opportunity to discuss the bad patch his team is going through, currently 22nd in the new Champions League format and fourth in the Premier League.
“To our fans, we will continue to work together as a team to improve and turn this situation around,” he said.
In response to Walker’s reaction to the attacks, his club, Manchester City, expressed their support for the player.
“Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse directed at Kyle Walker online following last night’s match,” the club said in a statement.
The player, originally from Sheffield, with a Jamaican father and a British mother, also received the support of the Premier League, who issued a statement to show solidarity with the footballer.
“The Premier League condemns all forms of discrimination. Racism has no place in our sport or in society,” the English league’s governing body said.
