Over the weekend of February 22, 2026, four Premier League players shared screenshots of racist messages they received on Instagram following their matches. Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri were targeted after their teams' 1-1 draw on Saturday. On Sunday, Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare received racist abuse after missing a penalty in a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, and Sunderland midfielder Romaine Mundle was similarly targeted after his team's 3-1 loss to Fulham.
All four clubs issued statements condemning the abuse and reporting it to social media platforms and authorities. The players shared their frustration publicly, with Fofana writing that "these people are never punished" despite anti-racism campaigns, and Arokodare noting the "freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences." The Premier League and anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out also released statements. One message sent to Arokodare appeared to be from a gambler upset about a betting loss. The incidents occurred days after UEFA opened an investigation into claims Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior was racially abused on-field during a Champions League match.