SICK SOCIETY MUST CHANGE

First Zaha, now McGoldrick & Bolasie suffer vile online racist abuse and Blades say

SHEFFIELD UNITED say society must change after David McGoldrick revealed he had been subjected to vile racial abuse.

And after another shocking example of social-media attacks on black players, Everton have contacted the police about a racist message posted on Twitter in reference to Yannick Bolasie, 31 (right).

McGoldrick was targeted just hours after scoring the first two Premier League goals of his career in the Blades’ 3-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday. The Ireland forward posted a screenshot of the expletiveladen, racist message he received on Instagram, which included the ‘n’ word and “ape”, along with the message “2020 and this is life”.

The Blades are appalled by the racist abuse of McGoldrick,

32, and say they will work with the police and football’s authorities to find and punish whoever is responsible.

The Bramall Lane club tweeted: “We will support David and will do all we can to find the perpetrator of this disgusting message. We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure this person is brought to justice. This can not continue. Something needs to change.” McGoldrick’s strikepartner Oli McBurnie retweeted the club’s statement and said: “Disgusting. 2020 and people still have to put up with this.” Everton, meanwhile, have launched their own inquiry into the abuse Bolasie suffered in tandem with the police investigation. Bolasie asked on Twitter for score predictions ahead of the Toffees’ clash with Wolves on Sunday.

It was part of a competition to win the club’s new kit as the winger, who spent this season on loan at Sporting Lisbon, looked to support his team.

But one of the responses read: “Evertons foreign players will draw against Wolves foreign players. KEEP YEH F ****** PRIZE! #WhiteLivesMatter Everton are White!”.

Bolasie responded with a thumbs-up emoji and the word “Mug”. The tweet has since been removed. An arrest was made after Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha received racist abuse on social media before his side faced Aston Villa on Sunday.

And West Midlands Police confirmed: “The 12-year-old boy arrested in connection with racist messages sent to a footballer has been released under investigation while our enquiries continue.”

Zaha, 27, said: “People need to understand that whatever your age, that your behaviour and your words come with consequences and you can not hide behind social media.”