Derby County have condemned racial social media abuse received by striker Colin Kazim-Richards following the game against Nottingham Forest on Friday night.
The Derby striker scored the equalising goal with just six minutes of the game left to play, cancelling out James Garner’s 33rd-minute strike.
The Rams say that the abuse has been reported to the relevant authorities and that they will take a ‘zero tolerance’ stance to discrimination and prejudiced behaviour.
“Derby County Football Club is disgusted to have learned that one of its players has been racially abused via social media,” the club wrote in a statement.
“It was brought to the club’s attention on Saturday morning that Colin Kazim-Richards had received racially abusive messages via his social media platforms.
“The abuse received by Colin resulted in him having to have a conversation with his young children to explain why, in this day and age, racism and discrimination still exists.
“It should be clear, there is no place in sport or society for racism.”
The club also said that something has to be done about people receiving abuse on social media platforms.
“Social media abuse is, sadly, becoming more common and it is all too easy for individuals to hide behind an account. This cannot continue,” they said.
“The club has a long-standing commitment to striving for equality and diversity, not only in football but in society, and strongly supports several nationwide campaigns as well as staging its own work in the local community.
“We are united in celebrating our diversity and we stand proudly with Colin, and all our players, to make it categorically clear that this behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Forest also released a statement, saying that are 'extremely disappointed' to learn of the abuse.
"We as a club wholeheartedly support Derby County Football Club’s stance in reporting the abuse to Derbyshire Police," the statement read
"Any form of racist abuse is abhorrent and has no place in football or society. The persons involved in this hate crime do not appear to claim to be supporters of our club but, if they are, we will not hesitate in taking the firmest possible action."
"Nottingham Forest also fully endorses and has actively participated in defining the list of demands recently placed on social media platforms by the UK football authorities. We stand with the football authorities and all football clubs in demanding that change must happen now."
