Newcastle United has reported racist abuse directed at midfielder Joe Willock to police after he was targeted on social media following the team’s recent victory. An anonymous Instagram account sent a series of racist messages to Willock after Newcastle’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on March 12, 2023. The 26-year-old player highlighted the incident by sharing screenshots of the abusive messages on his social media accounts.
In a statement released by the club, Newcastle expressed its outrage at the treatment Willock received. The statement read: “We are disgusted by the racist abuse received by Joe Willock on Instagram on Sunday evening. Following our win over Crystal Palace, Joe received several direct messages that included racial slurs and deeply disturbing threats of violence towards him and his family.”
Willock responded to the abuse with a poignant message of compassion, stating: “I pray you and your family find God. And may him have mercy on you.” This incident marks the second time in less than a year that Willock has had to address racist abuse on social media. He faced similar harassment after a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in February 2022, leading Newcastle to contact law enforcement at that time as well.
Call for Stronger Action from Social Media Platforms
Newcastle United is urging social media companies to take more effective measures to protect players and hold offenders accountable. In their statement, the club emphasized that “this can only happen with meaningful action from Meta, Instagram’s owners.” They called for Meta to provide police with all necessary information to identify the perpetrator swiftly.
The club added, “Removing content and applying message filters is not enough. Social media companies must do more to protect users and support the prosecution of those who seek to break the law on their platforms.” The statement concluded with strong support for Willock and others facing similar abuse: “We stand firmly with Joe and anyone else who faces this kind of abuse.”
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out also condemned the racist messages directed towards Willock. A representative expressed their disgust and noted that the rise in online abuse has become a troubling trend. “We have seen a surge in online abuse being reported to us this season, and there is no sign of it slowing down,” they stated.
Willock has been an important player for Newcastle, appearing in 10 Premier League games this season as he enters his sixth year with the club. The ongoing issue of racism in football and on social media platforms continues to be a significant concern, highlighting the need for collective action from clubs, organizations, and technology companies. Newcastle United’s commitment to addressing this issue reflects a growing demand for change in the culture surrounding online interactions in sports.
