Shocking events in the English top-flight have overshadowed sporting competition. Following a series of weekend matches, three Premier League players have fallen victim to racist attacks on social media. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea, and Burnley have issued strong statements condemning "disgusting and unlawful" behavior after Tolu Arokodare, Wesley Fofana, and Hannibal Mejbri publicized the abuse they received. The clubs have pledged full cooperation with police to identify the perpetrators.

Racist Attacks on Arokodare

The Wolves striker became the target of abuse after missing a penalty in the match against Crystal Palace.

Incident at Stamford Bridge

Wesley Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri fell victim to hate following Chelsea's draw with Burnley.

Discipline Crisis at Chelsea

The London club has already received its eighth red card of the season, dropping more points in added time.

Another weekend on English pitches has been dominated by the fight against racism in the digital space. The latest target of attacks has been Wolverhampton Wanderers' Nigerian striker, Tolu Arokodare. Following Sunday's defeat to Crystal Palace (0:1), in which Arokodare missed a penalty kick, the player received a series of racist messages from "multiple perpetrators." Wolves officially condemned these actions, describing them as abhorrent. This is another such incident within just 48 hours, amplifying football's frustration with social media platforms' ineffectiveness in combating hate. Arokodare's situation is almost identical to what happened a day earlier to Chelsea's Wesley Fofana and Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri. Following Saturday's 1:1 draw at Stamford Bridge, both players fell victim to racist slurs on Instagram. Fofana, who received a red card in the 72nd minute of the match, published screenshots of private messages, bitterly commenting that "nothing changes." Meanwhile, Mejbri called for education, emphasizing the absurdity of such behavior in 2026. Chelsea and Burnley issued a joint statement, declaring zero tolerance for discrimination. Anti-racism efforts in English football intensified after 2021, when a wave of hate targeted England national team players following the European Championship final. Since then, the Premier League and the Kick It Out organization have regularly pressured governments and tech giants to tighten online safety regulations. In sporting terms, these matches brought significant disappointments for the favorites. Chelsea, despite an early lead from Joao Pedro's goal, failed to maintain the result and once again this season "dropped points," conceding a goal in the 93rd minute. The team of Liam Rosenior struggles with a lack of discipline, as evidenced by the eighth red card in the current campaign. Meanwhile, Wolves' defeat to Crystal Palace complicates their mid-table position. Experts point out that pressure on players is mounting, which, combined with the toxic online atmosphere, sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the sport. „2026 and it is the same. People are never punished for what they do or say.” — Wesley Fofana 8 — red cards received by Chelsea this season „Wolves condemn abhorrent and unlawful online racist abuse directed towards Tolu Arokodare.” — Tolu Arokodare Points dropped at home from winning positions: Chelsea: 17, Leeds: 12, Wolves: 9, Burnley: 7

Mentioned People

  • Tolu Arokodare — Nigerian striker for Wolverhampton Wanderers, victim of racism.
  • Wesley Fofana — French defender for Chelsea, who received a red card and fell victim to hate.
  • Hannibal Mejbri — Tunisian midfielder for Burnley, attacked racially online.
  • Liam Rosenior — Chelsea manager, criticizing his team's performance.
  • Joao Pedro — Goal scorer for Chelsea in the match against Burnley.