English Premier League outfit Wolves have condemned racist abuse on striker Tolu Arokodare after their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The league’s bottom side suffered their 20th league defeat of the season and look destined for the drop, but the aftermath of the clash was marred by online abuse to the Super Eagles forward.
The 25-year-old missed a penalty kick in the first half of the clash and missed some other chances as Evan Guessand struck late to give Crystal Palace a crucial win.
Arokodare posted on his social media after the match, expressing displeasure over comments and remarks he had received from several accounts.
It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences.
“These individuals should have no place in our game and collectively we have to take action to punish everyone who taints the sport like this, no matter who they are.”
Meanwhile, Wolves have spoken out against the incident and are working with the relevant authorities to find out the responsible parties.
Wolves are disgusted by numerous instances of racist abuse, from multiple perpetrators, directed at Tolu Arokodare on social media following today’s fixture against Crystal Palace,” the Midlands club said.
“There is no place for racism — in football, online, or anywhere in society. We condemn this abhorrent and unlawful behaviour in the strongest possible terms. Tolu has our full and unwavering support.
“No player should be subjected to such hatred simply for doing their job,” the team said. “We stand firmly alongside him, and alongside all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity.
“The club has reported the posts to the relevant platforms and will work with the Premier League and the authorities to help identify those responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken. We will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination.”
Arokodare was not the only player to suffer a racial abuse in the Premier League this weekend, as Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, Burnley’s Hannibal Mejri and Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle all suffered similar attacks online.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
