RACE ABUSE OF UNITED DUO PROBED

MANCHESTER UNITED have called in police to investigate racist abuse towards Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial on social media.

United have also urged the online platforms to put a stop to the attacks from “anonymous mindless idiots” after Tuanzebe and Martial, below, were targeted in the wake of Wednesday’s shock 2-1 defeat by Sheffield United.

Comments were posted on photos the players had uploaded, with some including monkey images.

In response, Tuanzebe yesterday posted a video compilation of him playing for United in various matches, with the caption: “My race. My religion. My colour = football. #NoToRacism.”

A statement from the club read:

“Everyone at Manchester United is disgusted by the racial abuse. We utterly condemn it and it is

encouraging to see other fans condemn this on social media also. Identifying these anonymous mindless idiots remains problematic. We urge social media platforms and regulatory authorities to strengthen measures to prevent this behaviour.”

Scott McTominay was among the United players to back his team-mates on social media. He posted a photo of Tuanzebe, right, with a crown on his head alongside a heart emoji as well as black and white fists. “My brother,” he wrote. United captain Harry Maguire said: “It’s disgusting. I woke up this morning, I was devastated, I was hurt with the result and then I read what’s happened on social media to my team-mates. It made me feel sick.

“There’s no place for it. They’re definitely no fans of this club, we don’t want their support.”

Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari said: “Online hate must have real-life consequences, so people don’t continue to spread hate as freely as they wish.”