Disgusting abuse.
Wilfried Zaha has accused supporters of Manchester United and Liverpool of racially abusing him on social media.
The ability of social media users to remain anonymous almost encourages trolling but while friendly ribbing between fans of rival clubs is acceptable, racial abuse is anything but.
Crystal Palace’s Zaha took to Instagram following his side’s 2-0 victory over Premier League rivals West Brom in Hong Kong this weekend to claim that he’d been called “a black monkey” by fans of Liverpool and former club, Manchester United.
Image via BBC“If Man United and Liverpool fans feel better by calling me a black monkey in my messages .. feel free to carry on if it makes your day better.”
Diversity campaign group Kick It Out has since commented on the matter.
“Kick It Out was disgusted to read that online racial abuse has been directed at Zaha,” a spokesman said, via BBC. “It is completely unacceptable that any person should have to suffer this type of abuse.”
Zaha fell victim to a number of rough tackles in Saturday’s game and his manager claimed that the Baggies players were attempting to injure his star winger.
“They were looking for him, to injure him,” Palace boss Frank de Boer said.
“He’s one of the exciting players in the league. I don’t want to think he’d be out for two weeks or months.”
