Key Takeaways
- Tottenham have reported sickening racist posts aimed at Kevin Danso to police forces at home and abroad.
- The abuse followed Danso’s mistake that led to Brighton’s 95th-minute equaliser on Saturday.
- Both Spurs and the Premier League vow to push for the toughest punishment available.
Tottenham Hotspur have promised “the strongest possible action” after Austrian defender Kevin Danso was bombarded with racist messages online.
The 25-year-old centre-back mis-timed a clearance in stoppage time, allowing Georginio Rutter to snatch a 2-2 draw for Brighton on Saturday. Within minutes, hateful comments flooded social media.
In a hard-hitting statement released on Sunday, the north-London club said the posts were “vile, dehumanising racism” and “without doubt a criminal offence”. Officials have already passed screenshots to the Metropolitan Police and to law-enforcement agencies in the countries where the accounts are registered.
“Nothing about form or league position can ever excuse discrimination,” the statement added. “Criticising a player is part of football; racism is not.”
Danso reposted the club’s message on Instagram, telling followers: “I’ve seen the comments. They have no place in the game or in life. They don’t define me and they won’t knock me off track.”
The Premier League also backed the player, warning that anyone found guilty “will face club bans and prosecution”. The game fell on the competition’s official “No Room For Racism” weekend, increasing the embarrassment for English football.
Spurs remain second-bottom with five matches left. Despite the pressure, Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons insists the squad is united behind new head coach Roberto De Zerbi. “The late goal hurts, but the fans were brilliant and we are working hard to turn this around,” Simons told SpursPlay after scoring his first goal for the club.