Wesley Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri spoke up after facing racist abuse on social media after Chelsea FC’s 1–1 draw with Burnley FC at Stamford Bridge. Fofana got a second yellow and was sent off late in the second half, and then Burnley managed to grab a stoppage-time equalizer thanks to Zian Flemming, Afterwards, both players posted screenshots showing the abusive messages they received online.
Fofana wrote, “2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes.”You run these huge campaigns against racism, but in the end, no one really takes action. Mejbri said, “Make sure you and your kids keep learning. ”Chelsea called the abuse “abhorrent” and pledged to cooperate with the authorities to find those responsible, saying there’s no place for racism in the game.
Burnley also released a statement backing the players. The anti-discrimination group Kick It Out called on social media companies to step up protections and be more accountable.
The incident comes after recent claims about Vinícius Júnior during a European match, showing that worries about racism in football are still present both online and in stadiums.
