Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has called out social media companies for failing to address racist abuse after sharing hateful messages he received in the wake of the team’s Champions League defeat to Juventus.
What Happened?
The English champions’ struggles continued with a 2-1 loss to Juventus on Wednesday, adding to a poor run of form that includes just one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions. While fans expressed their disappointment with the team’s performance, some took to social media to direct vile racist abuse at Walker.
The England international shared screenshots of the offensive messages on his Instagram story, urging platforms like Instagram to take stronger action against such behavior.
What Kyle Walker Said
Walker addressed the abuse directly, writing:
"No one should ever be subject to the sort of vile, racist, and threatening abuse I have received online since last night's match. Instagram and the authorities need to stop this from happening for the sake of all who are suffering this abuse. It is never acceptable."
He also reassured fans, adding:
"To our fans, we will continue to work as a team to do better, to improve, and to turn the corner together."
In a follow-up post, he labeled the abuse simply as "Unacceptable."
What Manchester City Said
The club issued a statement condemning the abuse and voicing support for their captain:
"Manchester City strongly condemns the racist abuse that Kyle Walker was subjected to online following last night’s fixture. We refuse to tolerate discrimination of any kind, whether in stadiums or online. We will be offering Kyle our full support following this disgusting treatment."
The Bigger Picture
The incident highlights ongoing issues with racism in football and the inadequacy of social media platforms in combating online abuse. Despite public outcry and repeated calls for action, high-profile players continue to face targeted attacks.
What’s Next?
Manchester City will aim to bounce back when they host rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. Meanwhile, Walker’s statement serves as a renewed call for stronger measures to combat racism in football and online.
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