Chelsea, England and the FA have condemned the racist abuse sent to defender Reece James as the full-back becomes the latest Premier League player to be subjected to it.
On Friday, James posted a screenshot of a racist message he had received on Instagram with the caption, “something needs to change”.
This week alone, Manchester United duo Axel Tuanzabe and Anthony Martial also received racist abuse via social media platforms and police made an arrest following an a complaint raised by West Bromwich Albion over an “abhorrent message” sent to midfielder Romaine Sawyers.
In a statement, Chelsea said: “Everyone at Chelsea FC is disgusted with the racist abuse Reece James received on social media on Friday evening.
“This club finds racism and all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We totally condemn it.
“In sport, as in wider society, we must create a social media environment where hateful and discriminatory actions are as unacceptable online as they would be on the street.
“We add our voice to those urging social media platforms and regulatory authorities to take stronger, more effective and more urgent action against this despicable behaviour.
“Something needs to change and it needs to change now.”
England right-back James also addressed the issue on Saturday on his Instagram page, stating, “we all have a part to play in making this world a better and more equal place”, calling for Instagram to do more in combating such behaviour.
Teammates Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta are among those in the game to have shown public support.
A post on the England team’s Twitter account read: “Every time one of our players – or anybody – faces abuse, it only increases our determination to stamp racism out of the game.
“As the national team, it is our duty to drive change and to ensure that no individual has to endure what Reece has.”
The FA added: “We are united with all of football in our abhorrence of any racist abuse. This is not acceptable in any part of society.
“We will continue to work with the rest of the game, the government and social media platforms to remove this – and all elements of – discrimination from our sport.”
