Chelsea and Burnley Players Targeted With Racist Instagram Messages After 1‑1 Draw
Updated (2 articles)
Racist Instagram messages sent to two players after Stamford Bridge match On 21 February 2026, Chelsea’s Hakim Mejbri and Burnley’s Mohamed Fofana received abusive direct‑messages on Instagram following the 1‑1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday [1]. Screenshots posted by the players showed slurs and threats, confirming a surge of online racism targeting Premier League athletes this season [1]. The abuse was reported publicly by both clubs to highlight the ongoing problem [1].
Clubs issue swift condemnations and pledge cooperation with authorities Chelsea described the messages as “vile” and “abhorrent,” promising to work with police and social‑media platforms to identify the offender [1]. Burnley called the abuse “disgusting,” reported the post to Meta, and pledged to cooperate with the Premier League and law‑enforcement agencies [1]. Both clubs affirmed zero‑tolerance policies and pledged support for the affected players [1].
Premier League and anti‑discrimination groups warn of sanctions The Premier League warned that any identified perpetrators could face bans from stadiums and possible prosecution [1]. Anti‑racism charity Kick It Out expressed solidarity with Mejbri and Fofana, urging stronger action from Instagram and policing units [1]. The league reiterated its commitment to a “safe and inclusive” environment for all participants [1].
Meta acknowledges responsibility and outlines ongoing content‑removal efforts A Meta spokesperson told BBC Sport the company removes racist content when detected and will continue to protect its community while cooperating with police investigations [1]. The incident follows other high‑profile cases this season, including abuse of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr and a match‑stoppage incident involving Liverpool and Bournemouth [1]. Officials emphasized that the problem remains systemic across social‑media platforms [1].
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Timeline
2000s – British athletes such as table‑tennis star Kirsty Gilmour, tennis player Katie Boulter and footballer Jess Carter publicly report death threats, rape threats and hate abuse online, creating long‑standing pressure on sport bodies to address digital harassment. [2]
Dec 4, 2025 – UK Sport signs a £300,000 contract to give athletes, coaches, staff and families free access to Social Protect, an AI‑driven tool that scans Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube for more than two million abusive terms and hides matching content in real time; the service will stay active through the Los Angeles 2028 Games and at major domestic events. [2]
Feb 20, 2026 – After a 1‑1 draw between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge, racist Instagram messages targeting Chelsea midfielder Romain Mejbri and Burnley forward Mohamed Fofana surface publicly, highlighting the persistence of online racism in the Premier League. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – Chelsea condemns the messages as “vile” and “abhorrent,” declares zero tolerance for racism and pledges to work with police, the Premier League and social‑media platforms to identify the perpetrators. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – Burnley describes the abuse as “disgusting,” reports the offending post to Meta and commits to cooperate with the Premier League and law‑enforcement agencies in the investigation. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – The Premier League warns that any identified offenders could face bans and prosecution, while anti‑discrimination charity Kick It Out pledges solidarity with the players and calls on social‑media firms and policing units to take stronger action. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – A Meta spokesperson states, “We remove racist content when it is found and will continue to protect our community while cooperating with police investigations,” underscoring the platform’s role in the ongoing inquiry. [1]
Feb 20, 2026 – The incident is placed within a season‑long surge of abuse, following UEFA’s investigation of alleged threats against Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr, a match stoppage after Liverpool‑Bournemouth fan abuse, and earlier racial threats to Premier League players, illustrating a systemic problem across European football. [1]
2028 (planned) – Social Protect is scheduled to remain available to all UK Sport‑affiliated athletes through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, extending its protective coverage to future international competitions. [2]