Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright has been subjected to outpouring racist abuse on social media.
Top anti-racism charities condemned the incident after Wright chose to go public with the messages yesterday.
An Instagram user messaged the 56 year old retired footballer that he (Wright) exposed on twitter.
In one of the messages read: You’re like 65 years old. If I get corona I will cough in your face and give you your death sentence.”
Wright said: “I know I’m not meant to look at them but these messages still hit me so hard man. This is a child!!!
“This kid has a direct line into me & is able to send this without any worry.”
Show Racism the Red Card chief executive Ged Grebby has strongly condemned the abuse.
“Ian Wright has put his head above the parapet again and I saw him on Match of the Day with Gary Lineker a few weeks ago talking about the racist abuse he suffered as a player,” Grebby said.
Wright-reveals-sickening-abuse
“We are dismayed during this very trying time by the disgraceful abuse directed at Ian Wright and Gabriel Agbonlahor and their families. Racial hate speech and violent threats are totally unacceptable but have become sadly normalized on social media,” Agbonlahor wrote.
Authorities still continue to find better ways to collaborate with social media platforms and developers to ensure safer use experience for all. Cases need to be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement agents with criminal sanctions placed on abusers.
Wright also posted screenshots of the messages and one of the profile responsible (which has now been removed) as he expressed his sadness that he is still dealing with racist abuse 20 years after he retired from playing soccer.
