BREAKING: Newcastle United has urgently reported a shocking incident of racist abuse directed at midfielder Joe Willock to the police. The vile messages, sent from an anonymous Instagram account, surfaced after the team’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on October 29, 2023.
This disturbing outpouring of racism came just moments after Willock, 26, missed a late chance to score after coming off the bench. Following the game, Willock shared screengrabs of the messages on social media, highlighting the need for immediate action against such hate.
“We are disgusted by the racist abuse received by Joe Willock on Instagram on Sunday evening,”
Newcastle United stated. The club emphasized that Willock received several direct messages containing racial slurs and threatening violence against him and his family.
The club’s swift response reflects a growing intolerance for racism in sports. They declared, “We have reported this matter to the police and will fully support any investigation to identify the person responsible and hold them accountable, wherever they are.”
In a poignant reply to the abuse, Willock wrote, “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 encountered such online harassment. He previously highlighted similar abuse after a 2-1 defeat against Fulham in February 2022, prompting Newcastle to contact law enforcement then as well.
The club is now calling out Meta, Instagram’s parent company, urging them to take more decisive action against online hate. Their statement urged, “This can only happen with meaningful action from Meta. We urge them to provide the police with all necessary information quickly to identify the perpetrator.”
Newcastle’s leadership stressed that merely removing content and applying message filters isn’t sufficient. “Social media companies must do more to protect users and support the prosecution of those who seek to break the law on their platforms,” they added. “We stand firmly with Joe and anyone else who faces this kind of abuse.”
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out also expressed outrage at the incident. A spokesperson stated they were “disgusted to hear of the vile racism directed towards Willock,” highlighting a worrying increase in online abuse this season. “We have seen a surge in online abuse being reported to us, and there is no sign of it slowing down,” they noted.
Joe Willock has participated in 10 Premier League games this season, marking his sixth year with Newcastle. With this latest incident, the pressure is mounting on social media platforms to take stronger measures against racism and to ensure player safety.
This developing story highlights the urgent need for systemic changes to combat online hate. As more details emerge, fans and advocates alike are calling for action to hold abusers accountable and protect players from such unacceptable behavior.
