Liverpool have come out in defence of Ibahima Konate who has received racist abuse online for injuring Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen.
The EPL club called the racial abuse of their French defender vile and abhorrent in a statement on Friday.
Konate landed on Osimhen’s arm following an aerial ball during the second leg UCL round of 16 match between Liverpool and Galatasaray, and the striker’s injured forearm was confirmed fractured.
Osimhen did not play the second half where Liverpool ran riot for a 4-0 win, and 4-1 aggregate victory that ended Galatasaray’s UCL campaign.
Osimhen’s hand is wrapped in a medical cast and is set for a lengthy period on the sideline, resulting in racism-related abuse directed at Konate, a situation Liverpool described as unacceptable.
“This behaviour is utterly unacceptable,” Liverpool started. “It is dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate. Racism has no place in football, no place in society and no place anywhere – online or offline.
“Our players are not targets. They are human beings. The abuse that continues to be directed at players, often hidden behind anonymous accounts, is a stain on the game and on the platforms that allow it to persist.”
The six-time UCL winners further called on social media companies providing the platform for abusers to take responsibility, and act on the mounting cases of online abuse.
“Social media companies must take responsibility and act now. These platforms have the power, the technology and the resources to prevent this abuse, yet too often they fail to do so.
“Allowing racist hatred to spread unchecked is a choice – and it is one that continues to harm players, families and communities across the game.”
Liverpool added that it is committed to supporting Konate, and working with authorities to identify people behind the attack on the defender. It also laid down the gauntlet to football authorities to confront racism with serious actions.
“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue. It must be confronted, challenged and eradicated – not tomorrow, but now.”
