Metropolitan Police investigating racist online abuse of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka

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The Metropolitan Police are investigating a racist tweet about Bukayo Saka which was posted after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday.

The offensive post was uploaded shortly after the game and showed a racist image of Saka.

Underneath the post, another Twitter user tagged the Metropolitan Police and said the post was a hate crime.

This has already been reported and is currently being investigated, police responded on Tuesday. The account of the person who posted the message was not publicly visible on Tuesday.

Saka was one of the players of the season for Arsenal, who are currently top of the Premier League.

The attacking player missed a penalty at the weekend as the score was 2-1 at the start of the second half. West Ham equalized minutes later to leave Arsenal with a four-point lead over Manchester City, having started the weekend with a six-point advantage.

It’s not the first time Saka has suffered racist abuse on social media, having also suffered a slew of offensive posts after missing a penalty in the European Championship final in 2021.

Saka was abused along with fellow black players Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who also failed to score their kicks.

The Football Association (FA) said at the time that it was appalled by the online racism directed at players on social media.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright threw his support behind Saka on Tuesday, writing in The Athletic: He will always be our star no matter what. He has my unequivocal support and I expect everyone around Arsenal to do the same. Voice support matters. I want him to know that we will always side with him.

Then you see racism. As a black player, it’s still there. Isn’t it enough to miss the penalty and take the disappointment that comes with it, because as a black player you also have to suffer racial slurs?

We will continue to elevate it above hate. Watch our fans on Friday night. He will feel the love. I can tell you that.

Despite what he went through, he continued to take responsibility. He can do it again. He has greatness. Go ahead again, Bukayo.

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