Liverpool has denounced the racist abuse aimed at defender Ibrahima Konaté as “dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate.”
The France international was involved in an incident with Victor Osimhen, which led to the striker being substituted at half-time due to what was later confirmed as a broken arm.
This incident resulted in the centre-back being targeted on social media, a behavior that Liverpool described as “utterly unacceptable.”
“It is dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate. Racism has no place in football, no place in society and no place anywhere — online or offline,” the club’s statement read.
“Our players are not targets. They are human beings. The abuse that continues to be aimed at players, often concealed behind anonymous accounts, is a blemish on the sport and on the platforms that permit it to persist.
“All of football must unite and declare, clearly and without compromise, that this will not be tolerated. Mere words of condemnation are insufficient.”
The club emphasized that the current circumstances cannot be allowed to persist and that it is the duty of various platform providers to take action.
“Social media companies must take responsibility and act now,” the statement continued.
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“These platforms possess the power, technology, and resources to prevent this abuse, yet they frequently fail to do so.
“Allowing racist hatred to proliferate unchecked is a choice — and it is one that continues to harm players, families, and communities throughout the game.
“We will continue to provide Ibrahima with our full support and will collaborate with the relevant authorities to identify those responsible whenever possible. However, the responsibility cannot solely rest on players and clubs to react after the harm has already occurred.
“The current situation cannot be allowed to persist. It must be confronted, challenged, and eradicated — not tomorrow, but now.”
