Racist trolling of Wilfried Zaha after Arsenal penalty decision sees Crystal Palace turn to Kick it Out

Palace call in Kick It Out after Zaha is subjected to racist trolling
Reuters/Dylan Martinez
Giuseppe Muro31 October 2018

Crystal Palace were in talks with Kick It Out today after Wilfried Zaha revealed he has been the target of racist abuse on social media since winning a penalty against Arsenal .

Zaha has also been subjected to sickening threats from online trolls “wishing death” on his family following the match on Sunday.

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out has condemned the abuse, which has increased calls for the police and social media platforms to do more to prevent online abuse.

Zaha won a late penalty against Arsenal when he was fouled by stand-in left-back Granit Xhaka and Luka Milivojevic converted to earn Palace a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.

Xhaka admitted after the match that the incident was a “clear penalty” but Zaha was still accused by some of diving and he revealed in an Instagram post that he has been subjected to racist abuse.

In Pictures | Crystal Palace vs Arsenal | 28/10/2018

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The 25-year-old wrote: “For all the people taking it one step further and being racist and wishing death on my family, I wish you and your families the best too. My life is still very good despite your hate.”

Kick It Out today condemned the abuse, saying: “It is concerning that players are still being abused like this, both at stadiums and online.

“It should not be happening in 2018. We are aware of the report and are liaising with the club.”

It is understood that Zaha and Palace are taking no further action for now, but the player is aware he can call on the club’s support if he changes his mind.

The abuse comes a week after the FA called on more to be done to shut down online abuse after the England midfielder Karen Carney was subjected to threats.

England Women manager Phil Neville made public the abuse Carney had received, sharing an Instagram post which wished “cancer, leukaemia and rape” on the Chelsea player.

Neville called on social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter to “do a better job” at protecting players.

Instagram said they do not “tolerate threatening or abusive behaviour”.

Zaha has been offered support by Palace, who face Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup tonight.

The Ivory Coast forward will not travel to the North-East, with Palace manager Roy Hodgson preparing to name a much-changed side for the game at the Riverside.

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