Liverpool on Friday condemned racist abuse directed at defender Ibrahima Konate as “dehumanizing, cowardly and rooted in hatred”.
The France international was involved in a collision with Victor Osimhen which led to the Galatasaray striker being substituted off at half-time of the Champions League match with what was later diagnosed as a broken arm.
Liverpool won the second leg of the last 16 at Anfield 4-0 on Wednesday for a 4-1 aggregate victory.
The Osimhen incident led to centre-back Konate being targeted on social media, behavior that Liverpool said was “completely unacceptable”.
«It is dehumanizing, cowardly and rooted in hatred. Racism has no place in football, no place in society and no place anywhere – online or offline,» a club statement said.
“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 continue.”
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Liverpool called on social media companies to do more to combat racist abuse.
“Social media companies must take responsibility and act now,” the statement said.
«The current situation cannot 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 racist abuse online on the same weekend last month.
An official spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government would put pressure on tech companies to provide more protection after Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, Sunderland’s Romaine Mundle, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri were targeted.
Published on March 20, 2026
