Fulham Football Club has strongly condemned the “abhorrent” racist and homophobic abuse directed at defender Calvin Bassey, which emerged following their FA Cup penalty shootout victory over Manchester United. Bassey, who netted the opening goal during the match at Old Trafford, shared examples of the distressing messages he received online.
In a statement, Fulham declared their commitment to tackling discrimination, emphasizing, “Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing.” The club also vowed to collaborate with relevant authorities to identify those responsible for these vile messages.
The Premier League expressed its dismay at the abuse, affirming its support for Bassey and Fulham. The league is actively working with social media platforms and authorities to impose the strictest penalties on individuals found guilty of such discriminatory behavior.
Bassey’s experience follows a troubling trend of abusive behavior in football, which has recent affected other players, including Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, England’s Kyle Walker, Newcastle’s Joe Willock, and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw. Addressing these issues, Samuel Okafor, CEO of the anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, stated that the level of abuse in English football has “reached crisis point.”
In the same match where Bassey starred, Fulham ultimately triumphed in the shootout after a 1-1 draw following extra time. The team will face Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals, bringing a sense of resilience and determination to their campaign.
This incident serves as a crucial reminder of the challenges still faced in the realm of sports regarding equality and respect. Nevertheless, the strong responses from Fulham and the Premier League illustrate a collective effort to combat such hateful conduct, fostering hope for a more inclusive future in football.
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