GERSSTAR’S RACE HATE HELL
Ibrox ace warns social media giants ‘something needs to be done’
RANGERS star Kemar Roofe has shared the sickening racist abuse he endures online in a bid to stop the bigots.
The 28-year-old Englishman has revealed vile death-threat messages which repeatedly use the N-word and monkey taunts.
He said: “Something needs to be done by the social media company owners.”
THERE have been calls for social media giants to crack down on racists after Rangers star Kemar Roofe revealed some of the abuse he receives online.
The 28-year-old Englishman shared a few of the messages he received, which include disgusting N-word and monkey taunts.
The latest episode prompted calls from human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar for a social media clampdown on racists.
It comes after Roofe’s teammate Glen Kamara was alleged to have been racially abused by Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela during last month’s Europa League clash.
Roofe was sent off in the match following a challenge on the Slavia goalie.
The midfielder posted some abuse he received, tagging Instagram and the Europa League.
One account messaged Roofe repeatedly, calling him a “f ****** n ***** ” and replying to a picture of a black girl posted by Roofe with “f ****** ugly n ***** s”.
The same account again messaged Roofe, saying “we must kill the f ****** monkey” and another again calling him a “f ****** n ***** ”.
Another troll sent him a message with several banana emojis with others including monkey emjois.
Anwar, who is representing Kamara in the racism storm, branded the bigots “cowards” and said the companies who allow racist filth on their apps must act now.
He said: “We have heard people saying to the social media giants that this has to stop… but vile racist abuse of people continues.
“Nobody would accept this on the street if someone came up to you and starting abusing you like this. It is unacceptable.
“I don’t think there has been enough discussion on the mental health of footballers and teams need to come together on this.
“Football has nothing to do with this, these people are just using the sport to make vile racist comments. They should be exposed… they hide behind anonymity and are nothing but cowards.”
In a string of messages targeted at Roofe, a troll wrote: “Die negro,” “Negro has a fracture of the frontal cavity” and “For your mum to die of coronavirus Negro,” followed by banana emojis.
Several of the accounts targeting Roofe appear to be based on the Czech Republic. This is possibly a link to the Kamara incident.
Roofe won support online. A fan wrote: “This needs to be stopped immediately. We are all with you.” Another added: “Keep reporting this. It made my stomach turn.”
Last week, Roofe told Sky Sports’ Super 6 podcast: “I’m not sure when it’s actually going to stop for me personally.
“To receive comments every day, abusing you, something needs to be done by the social media company owners.”
Instagram was contacted for comment.