Merseyside police launched an investigation after Abdoulaye Doucoure d’Everton received racist abuses on social networks following the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
Everton and Liverpool published a joint statement condemning the abuses that appeared on Instagram following the 2-2 draw on Wednesday during the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Doucoure and Curtis Jones of Liverpool were sent for heating after the Reds midfielder spoke to his opponent’s celebrations in front of the fans after the equalizer of James Tarkowksi in the 98th minute.
The racist abuses appeared in the post of Doucoure’s comments on the social media platform celebrating the result.
“Such an abuse is reprehensible and should not, and should not be tolerated,” reads the declaration of Everton and Liverpool.
“Together, the two clubs will work with the Merseyside police, who conduct an investigation in order to identify those responsible.
“We must all, including social media societies, adopt a zero tolerance position. Platforms must take responsibility and measures to prohibit these attackers.
“Racism and hatred have no online space, in our stages or in our communities.”
Merseyside police called on any information that could identify those responsible.
“We are investigating this and taking these hate crime reports very seriously,” said the superintendent in chief Claire Doyle.
“If you have any information, please let us know, as this could help our current requests.
“We managed to continue the so-called fans for racist abuse and we gave them commands of football ban and a criminal record for their behavior.
“The Merseyside police will not tolerate hatred crimes in any form whatsoever and work to identify and to bring to justice anyone who has deemed it responsible for committing it.”
Sky Sports News A approached Meta, the company that owns and operates Instagram, to comment.
