Marcus Rashford was the latest Manchester United to be subjected to racism on social media.
The 22-year-old, who was awarded the MBE for his efforts to help fight child food poverty, received multiple racist messages on Instagram after Manchester United’s goalless stalemate with Arsenal.
They were sent to the United forward but he has decided not to publicly share the screenshots.
“I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am,” he said on Twitter.
“No-one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here.
“I’m not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them.
“I have beautiful chilled of all colours following me and the don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should be celebrated.”
I’m not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them. I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated.
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021
Speaking on Match of the Day, former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said the authorities and social media companies need to do more to identify to perpetrators.
Wright has also been a victim of racist abuse online.
He said, as quoted by BBC Sport: “It seems to be a fact if a black player plays poorly — or they think they did — they come with all the emojis and whatever. There are ways of being able to catch people. They’re not vigilant enough, nowhere near.
“It should be something they’re doing hand in hand. But how much do they care deep down?”
Jermaine Jenas added: “The platforms, I need them to show me these people and say they’re doing everything they can to bring some justice. For those asking why we are still taking the knee, there you go.”
On Saturday a man was arrested after a racist message was sent to West Brom’s Romaine Sawyers.
And on Friday Chelsea right-back Reece James was racially abused on social media.
On top of that, United duo Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial received more racist abuse on social media after their side’s defeat to Sheffield United at Old Trafford.
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Can these dickheads sod off and leave our players alone.