CNN
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English Premier League membership Brentford launched a press release condemning the “disgusting, racist abuse” its striker Ivan Toney says he acquired on social media after he scored two objectives throughout his facet’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday.
“I wasn’t even going to publish this however I awakened indignant…” Toney wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning, alongside screenshots of an Instagram direct message utilizing abusive language.
In its assertion, Brentford condemned “this discriminatory behaviour within the strongest doable phrases.
“An assault on certainly one of our gamers is an assault on all of us. Ivan will obtain the total backing from the Membership and from the Brentford followers who now we have already seen condemning the abuse.
“We count on sturdy assist from the police, authorized authorities and from Instagram’s mum or dad firm, Meta, to make sure that the person concerned faces the total drive of the regulation for this despicable hate crime.”
“No person ought to obtain racist messages reminiscent of this,” the Metropolitan Police mentioned in a press release to CNN. “We’ve despatched a message to the sufferer asking him to contact police.”
A Meta spokesperson mentioned in a press release to CNN that, “nobody ought to need to expertise racist abuse, and sending messages like that is fully in opposition to our guidelines.
“DMs are personal areas, which implies we will’t take motion until somebody studies the message to us in-app – however we additionally wish to assist defend individuals from having to see this abuse within the first place.
“That’s why we’ve developed our Hidden Phrases characteristic which filters offensive feedback and DMs, and we’re working carefully with soccer our bodies to assist gamers flip these instruments on. Nobody factor will repair this in a single day, however we’ll proceed to work to assist defend our neighborhood from abuse, and to reply shortly to legitimate authorized requests to assist police investigations.”
Earlier than kick-off, Brentford and Brighton gamers took a knee to “present their unity in opposition to all types of racism,” as all Premier League gamers are doing between October 8 and 16 to focus on the league’s No Room For Racism marketing campaign.
The Premier League additionally launched its personal assertion on Twitter, condemning “all types of discrimination.”
“Nobody ought to need to face abuse of the type acquired by Ivan Toney,” the assertion learn. “It has no place in soccer or society. We’re supporting Ivan and the membership with investigations. Soccer is for everybody #NoRoomForRacism.”
“The #PL will proceed to assist gamers and work with golf equipment to sort out discriminatory behaviour,” the league added, in a threaded tweet.
In Might, British police mentioned it was investigating the alleged racist abuse of Toney and his teammate Rico Henry’s households throughout Brentford’s match in opposition to Everton in Liverpool.
Toney and Henry tweeted the allegations in opposition to the unidentified supporters after the match at Goodison Park.
“And for the person that racially abused my household Il [sic] do every part I can to get you the punishment you deserve,” Toney wrote on the time.
