Bolton Wanderers Football Club has urged social media platforms to do more to make users held accountable for their actions after one of our players was subjected to vile racist abuse on Instagram.
Forward Elias Kachunga, who joined the club on a two-year deal last month, was subjected to sickening racist and hateful comments on his personal Instagram account within 24 hours of our game against Burton on Monday.
The Club is providing support to Elias and has reported the matter to Greater Manchester Police as well as following the protocols provided by the EFL and Kick It Out.
Chairman Sharon Brittan said: “Racism and hatred have no place at all in society and I was sickened to the core on hearing this disgusting abuse directed at one of our players.
“I have spoken with Elias and his partner and they are understandably upset by these messages.
“My immediate thoughts are with them, as well as his team-mates who are repulsed by the language that was used.
“We as a Club stand firm in saying that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated and we have reported this to the Police and relevant authorities. I have also spoken with the EFL today regarding future steps we can take together to eradicate this hatred from our game.
“I will be relentless in making sure that everything is done to help identify and prosecute the perpetrator.
“We will not rest until positive action is taken and social media companies take the necessary steps to eradicate unsolicited hatred from their platforms.
Wanderers Manager Ian Evatt added: “I was appalled when I heard that Elias had received these disgraceful posts. Any right minded person will have been as sickened as we were.
“We as a society must do more to show that racism and discrimination will never be tolerated and social media companies have to make people accountable for what they post on their platforms.
“Elias has the full support of everyone at the Club and we hope that whoever sent these awful messages to him is dealt with appropriately.”