Newcastle United condemns racist abuse targeting Joe Willock

Newcastle United has condemned the 'appalling racist abuse' directed at midfielder Joe Willock on social media following the team's 2-1 defeat to Fulham. Willock shared screenshots of the abusive messages he received on Instagram, prompting the club to report the incidents to both the police and Meta, the parent company of Instagram. The club expressed its unwavering support for Willock, stating that there is 'no room for racism anywhere' and advocating for stronger measures from social media platforms to combat such behavior. This incident is part of a broader issue in football, where the charity Kick It Out reported a significant rise in discrimination cases, including a 32 percent increase in racism during the 2023-24 season. Willock has previously faced similar abuse, highlighting an ongoing problem within the sport and society at large. Newcastle United is preparing to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final amidst these troubling circumstances.