UPDATE: Premier League players Tolu Arokodare and Romaine Mundle have just become the latest victims of shocking racist abuse on social media, marking an alarming spike in incidents this weekend. This comes after Arokodare missed a penalty during Wolves’ 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace on October 15, 2023, resulting in a barrage of hateful messages directed at him online.
In a disturbing trend, Mundle was also targeted after his substitute appearance in Sunderland’s 3-1 loss to Fulham earlier that same day. These incidents follow previous attacks on Wesley Fofana of Chelsea and Hannibal Mejbri of Burnley, who faced similar abuse after their teams drew 1-1 on October 14, 2023.
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out condemned this “appalling weekend” in a powerful statement, saying, “We stand in solidarity with Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle. The message from them is loud and clear: action must follow.” The charity emphasized that players should not have to tolerate such behavior and called for more effective measures from social media platforms to combat this ongoing issue.
The Premier League has pledged to support investigations by both Wolves and Sunderland, asserting that there will be “serious consequences” for those found guilty of this abhorrent behavior. The league reiterated that “football is for everyone – there is no room for racism.”
Wolves expressed their disgust at the numerous instances of abuse directed toward Arokodare, stating, “We condemn this abhorrent and unlawful behavior in the strongest possible terms.” The club has reported the offensive posts to the relevant platforms and is committed to working with authorities to identify those responsible.
Arokodare took to Instagram to voice his disbelief, saying, “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.” He urged for collective action to punish offenders who tarnish the sport.
Sunderland echoed this sentiment, calling the behavior of the perpetrators “unacceptable” and vowed to take the strongest possible action. The club stated, “These individuals do not represent Sunderland AFC, our values, or our community – and they are not welcome on Wearside.”
In a broader context, UEFA has recently initiated an investigation regarding claims by Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, who alleged he was racially abused during a Champions League match against Benfica. The accused player, Gianluca Prestianni, has denied these allegations.
Fofana, who shared screenshots of the hateful messages he received, expressed frustration with the lack of accountability, stating, “2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes.” Mejbri also shared his experience, urging for education against racism, emphasizing, “It’s 2026 and there are still people like that. Educate yourself and your kids, please.”
The growing frequency of such incidents highlights an urgent need for action and accountability from social media platforms and governing bodies. Fans, players, and clubs alike are calling for a united front against racism in football.
As this situation develops, all eyes will be on the Premier League, clubs, and social media companies to see how they respond to these urgent calls for change. The fight against racism in football is far from over, and immediate action is needed to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all players and fans.
