Newcastle United football club has contacted the police after one of its players, Joe Willock, was the target of racist abuse on social media. The abuse was received after Newcastle’s latest match against Fulham, which they lost 2-1. Willock had been a substitute in the second half and bore the brunt of the blame for Newcastle’s loss after missing a chance to score points and put them in the lead.
Joe Willock shared screenshots of the abuse he received online, and Newcastle United immediately issued a statement, condemning the behavior and calling on social media companies to prevent such messages from reaching their players. They have also reported the abuse to the platform owners, Meta, urging them and other social media companies to work towards eradicating this sort of behavior on their platforms.
The club has also reported the abuse to the police, who have started an investigation into the harassment. At the same time, the Premier League has offered its support, stating that it would stand behind the investigation and take action against any individual that they could identify.
While news of Willock’s harassment has only come to light recently, it follows closely behind two other reports of online abuse aimed at footballers in the UK. One report involved threats against a referee, and the other was directed at the wife of a player. Both incidents are subject to separate ongoing investigations by the police.
Newcastle United has vowed to do all they can to support their players and staff and ensure that they only receive the utmost respect in their roles. The club’s statement also reinforced that there is no place for racism or any other form of discrimination in football or society
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