Liverpool condemn ‘cowardly’ racist abuse of Konate

Liverpool on Friday condemned racist abuse directed towards defender Ibrahima Konate as “dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate”.

The France international was involved in a clash with Victor Osimhen which resulted in the Galatasary striker being substituted at half-time of their Champions League tie with what was later diagnosed as a broken arm.

Liverpool won Wednesday’s last-16 second leg at Anfield 4-0 for a 4-1 victory on aggregate.

The incident with Osimhen led to centre-back Konate being targeted on social media, behaviour which Liverpool said was “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,” said a club statement.

“Our players are not targets. They are human beings. The abuse that continues to be directed at players, often hidden behind anonymous accounts, is a stain on the game and on the platforms that allow it to persist.”

Liverpool called on social media firms to do more to combat racist abuse.

“Social media companies must take responsibility and act now,” the statement said.

“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue. It must be confronted, challenged and eradicated — not tomorrow, but now.”

Police launched an investigation after four Premier League players were the subject of online racist abuse on the same weekend last month.

An official spokesman for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government would put pressure on technology companies to provide greater protection after Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri were targeted.