Police Launch Investigation After Former Manchester United Midfielder Racially Abused

London – The UK Football Policing Unit has opened a formal investigation after four Premier League players, including former Manchester United academy midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, were subjected to online racial abuse over the weekend.

The incidents, which occurred across Saturday and Sunday, have reignited scrutiny of social media companies and prompted Downing Street to demand swifter action from platforms and law-enforcement agencies alike.

Mejbri, currently on loan at Burnley, was targeted on Instagram following the Clarets’ 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana received similar abuse after the same fixture. On Sunday, Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle also reported racist messages, bringing the weekend’s tally to four separate cases under active investigation.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who leads the UK Football Policing Unit, issued a stern warning to perpetrators: “There is absolutely no place for racial abuse, either online or in person, and anyone who believes they can hide behind their keyboards should think again. The UKFPU condemns this abhorrent behaviour and we will ensure that, through our dedicated team of officers, we do everything possible to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official spokesman echoed the condemnation, labelling the abuse “abhorrent” and reaffirming the government’s support for players who speak out. “Premier League clubs have said they want to work with social media sites, including Meta, the Premier League and the police to identify those responsible. Ministers will be holding them to account to ensure it happens,” the spokesman said.

Burnley moved quickly to support Mejbri, releasing a statement that left no room for ambiguity: “Everyone at Burnley FC is disgusted by the online racist abuse directed at Hannibal Mejbri following today’s Premier League fixture. There is no place for this in our society and we condemn it unreservedly. The Club has reported the post to Instagram’s parent company, Meta, and expects strong support from them, together with the Premier League and the Police, and will work to ensure that the individual responsible is identified and investigated.”

The episode underscores a familiar tension: while the Premier League title race intensifies, so too does the exposure of players to discriminatory attacks. With clubs, governing bodies and law enforcement now under renewed pressure to move beyond symbolic gestures, the outcome of these investigations will be watched closely as a barometer of football’s willingness to protect its own.

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