Skip to content

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich promises extra funds to fight discrimination

Blues defender Reece James shared vile messages he had been sent, while Manchester United trio Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were also targeted by racist abuse along with West Brom's Romaine Sawyers; Abramovich says he is "appalled" by the abuse and vowed to fight it

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has written to his squad saying he is "appalled" at the recent racist abuse players have suffered
Image: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has written to his squad saying he is "appalled" at the recent racist abuse players have suffered

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has written to his players promising to direct funding to efforts to stamp out discrimination after a spate of incidents of online abuse over the last week.

Blues defender Reece James shared vile messages he had been sent, while Manchester United trio Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were also targeted by racist abuse along with West Brom's Romaine Sawyers.

Abramovich is understood to have written to each member of the Chelsea men's squad, including James, to express how "appalled" he was by the abuse and his renewed desire to fight it.

"I am appalled by the racist abuse targeted at Reece (James) on social media," the Russian said in the letter obtained by the Daily Mail.

"Racism has no place in our club nor in our society. Our club is committed to fighting racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination.

"We cannot allow this to continue unchecked. I have therefore directed the board to further increase the club's efforts in this area and I will personally direct more funds towards this important work."

We're All In To Kick It Out
We're All In To Kick It Out

Kick It Out and Sky have launched a partnership to end racism in sport

He said he wanted Chelsea to "do more to challenge discrimination at our club, in our communities and in the world around us".

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says the Government's Online Harms Bill will "crack down on online abuse" and tweeted: "Thank you so much to all the players who have called out the racial abuse they've received online.

"Their experiences will be at the top of my mind as we take this Bill through parliament."

The bill contains provisions to fine social media companies a proportion of their turnover if they fail to prevent and tackle online abuse.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says action must be taken to stamp out the racist abuse that a number of footballers have suffered

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has repeated the calls for social media platforms get a grip.

"I don't this is just a matter of footballers or famous people," the United said.

"Of course that gets highlighted. In a sense, it's good that we talk about it, highlight it again, but it's unacceptable behaviour.

"It happens all across the society and of course we work with the authorities and it has to be stopped.

"This way of discrimination on social media, we can't do a lot can we?

"So we have to work with the platforms and they've got to be stronger to make sure that we stop this."

The abuse of Rashford prompted an investigation from Greater Manchester Police and places further scrutiny on social media platforms as the UK Government plans to introduce new laws on online abuse in 2021.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

This is the message from Sky Sports presenters and reporters, who have united in supporting a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of online hate and abuse on social media

Hate Won't Stop Us

Sky Sports is committed to making skysports.com and our channels on social media platforms a place for comment and debate that is free of abuse, hate and profanity.

For more information, please visit: www.skysports.com/hatewontstopus

If you see a reply to Sky Sports posts and/or content with an expression of hate on the basis of race, colour, gender, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, age or class please copy the URL to the hateful post or screengrab it and email us here.

Kick It Out reporting racism

Online Reporting Form | Kick It Out

Kick It Out is football's equality and inclusion organisation - working throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and campaign for positive change.

www.kickitout.org

Around Sky