Luton Town have condemned racist abuse directed at one of the football club’s players on social media as “cowardly” in a passionate statement.
On Wednesday evening, the Hatters attacker Elijah Adebayo received racist abuse on his Instagram account.
It came after the 26-year-old scored his first goal of the Championship season in a 2-1 loss to Sunderland on the same night.
Following the abuse, his club published a strongly-worded statement in support of their player, almost exactly a year on from when Adebayo was previously subjected to racist abuse.
Luton Town said: “Just like we said a year ago, and just like we will do WHENEVER a player or staff member is subjected to abuse, we will stand by and support Elijah unequivocally.
“To the individual who cowardly dropped into Elijah’s DMs: We know who you are and you know who you are.
“You’re not a faceless account, one which we have sadly become accustomed to reporting in recent years.
“But as if you have the balls to come to Kenilworth Road and say it to his face.
“We dare you. If you do, you’ll be faced with everyone at Luton Town Football Club, standing side-by-side with Elijah.
“Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. But does everyone know that?
“It’s why we are doing our bit to educate everyone that racism and all forms of abuse is abhorrent and unacceptable.”
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The club reported the abuse to the police and to Facebook owner Meta and said it is now being investigated.
Sky News understands the account has now been disabled.
Luton also asked how much longer “our players, our heroes – fellow human beings for crying out loud” will continue to face racist abuse.
“There is NO room for racism,” the club’s statement added.
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Football has had a persistent problem with racism in England and abroad, despite campaigns such as Kick It Out leading to some improvement at stadiums.
But the problem is not limited to the sport.
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This summer was marked by riots motivated by false far-right claims about the Southport attacks and immigration, which also saw thousands take to the streets in anti-racism and counter-protests.
