Fofana has been the subject of racial abuse.
Image credit: Chelsea Dodgers
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has condemned the racial abuse he received on social media following his team’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old took to Instagram on Monday to share screenshots of six racist messages sent to him after the match at the Emirates Stadium.
“2025, stupidity and cruelty can no longer hide. It’s not just football; it’s not just a ‘game’ when some believe that their skin colour makes them superior to others,” Fofana wrote in an Instagram post.
2025, stupidity and cruelty no longer hide…
— Wesley Fofana (@Wesley_Fofana3) March 17, 2025
It’s not just football, it’s not just a "game" when some believe that their skin color makes them superior to others.
It’s time for things to change, for platforms to take action, and for everyone to take responsibility. pic.twitter.com/H8R3YU3h98
“It’s time for things to change, for platforms to take action, and for everyone to take responsibility.”
Chelsea’s Response
Chelsea Football Club swiftly condemned the abuse, releasing a strong statement in support of Fofana.
“Chelsea Football Club is appalled and disgusted by the recent rise in online racial abuse towards our players,” the club stated.
“The abuse Wes Fofana has been subjected to following yesterday’s fixture is abhorrent and will not be tolerated. Wes and all our players have our full support. We will work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators and take the strongest possible action.”
🚨 Chelsea say the online racial abuse Wesley Fofana received following the loss to Arsenal is "abhorrent and will not be tolerated".
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 17, 2025
🗣️ "We will work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators and take the strongest possible action." pic.twitter.com/UZekVFkdWu
Chelsea also confirmed that they would be contacting Instagram’s parent company, Meta, regarding the racist messages.
Rising Cases of Racial Abuse in Football
Fofana’s case is the latest in a growing list of incidents where footballers have been subjected to racial abuse online.
Other players, including Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, England defender Kyle Walker, Newcastle’s Joe Willock, and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw, have faced similar issues in recent months.
Samuel Okafor, chief executive of anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out (KIO), recently told BBC Sport that racial abuse in English football had reached a “crisis point.”
Despite repeated calls for social media companies to take stronger action, racist messages continue to flood platforms, often without consequences for the perpetrators.
Fofana’s Season So Far
The French defender has made 14 Premier League appearances this season, overcoming a three-month injury setback due to a hamstring issue.
All these fouls and the one thing Fofana got booked for was delaying the restart. 🤔
— THE NORTH LONDON (@_NorthLondon) March 17, 2025
Pretty absurd, to be honest. pic.twitter.com/XSXq5c7LDU
His performance against Arsenal was a subject of debate, as some Arsenal fans felt he was fortunate to remain on the pitch after multiple fouls.
