Police Investigate Online Abuse of Rangers Duo
Police Scotland is conducting an investigation after Rangers players Emmanuel Fernandez and Djeidi Gassama shared screenshots of racist abuse directed at them on their social media accounts following Sunday's match in Livingston.
Emmanuel Fernandez, a London-born centre-half eligible to represent Nigeria, and Djeidi Gassama, a winger capped by France Under-20 and born in Mauritania, both started for Rangers in a match where their title ambitions were impacted by a 2-2 draw against the Scottish Premiership's bottom-ranked team.
The racist abuse on Instagram emerged concurrently with confirmation from police in England that they are investigating online racial abuse targeting four Premier League players over the weekend.
A Police Scotland spokesperson told BBC Scotland:
"We are aware of offensive posts online and enquiries are at an early stage."
Rangers Football Club has been contacted for comment.
Police Investigate 'Abhorrent' Racist Abuse of Players
Recent incidents of racial abuse in football have prompted investigations and public condemnation. Last month, Livingston Football Club wrote to the Scottish Football Association regarding an alleged racial comment directed at striker Jeremy Bokila during their Premiership defeat by Aberdeen.
Following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri and Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana were subjected to racist abuse on Instagram.
On Sunday, Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle also received racist abuse via social media platforms.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman described the abuse as "abhorrent," adding:
"The Prime Minister has supported footballers before who have had the courage to come forward and call out discrimination and racism and this is no different."
The spokesman highlighted that English top-flight clubs have expressed a commitment to collaborate with social media companies, including Meta, the Premier League, and law enforcement to identify those responsible for such abuse.
"And Meta has said that it will continue to work to protect people from abuse,"
he added.
"Ministers will be holding them to account to ensure it happens."
Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out described the weekend as "appalling," but noted:
"The sad fact is, we know it happens regularly."
In November, a BBC investigation revealed that over 2,000 highly abusive social media posts—including death and rape threats—were directed at managers and players in the Premier League and Women's Super League during a single weekend.
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