Abuse has been digraceful but we’re behind Ryan... he’s a brilliant lad
Newell and Hibs mates back Porteous
JOE NEWELL says the Hibs squad have rallied round Ryan Porteous after the defender was subjected to online abuse in the aftermath of his red card at Rangers.
Porteous was dismissed during the defeat at Ibrox before the international break for a reckless tackle on Joe Aribo.
Hibs head coach Jack Ross revealed this week how vile sectarian and homophobic attacks had been directed at the 22-year-old, while some even went as far as wishing he would ‘die’.
Ross has offered his support to the centre-half and midfielder Newell insists his team-mates have collectively thrown an arm around Porteous.
Newell, who is hoping to help Hibs get back to winning ways in today’s visit of Dundee United, said: “We have all rallied around him to be fair. You put on that united front.
“Ryan is a great lad and while
I say he’s mentally strong it would upset anyone the stuff he’s had to put up with.
“He has the support of the club, the staff and his team-mates. We are all right behind him. We’ve got our squad group chats and Ryan is good mates with a lot of us so there’s been plenty of reaching out to him.
“It shouldn’t happen but it has. It has been disgraceful to be honest, some of the stuff he’s had to deal with.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about abuse online and the need to do more to highlight it.
“It shouldn’t be the case but it seems to be the way of things right now. These people online, if you walked past them on the street they wouldn’t look at you.
“But they will have a go at you online. Some of the stuff that’s been said has been horrible.
“It’s completely unnecessary. Shocking to be honest. But Ryan is a strong lad mentally and he’ll get by I know for sure.”
Despite the level of venom being directed at Porteous, Newell admits it is a sad indictment of the current climate that he was not shocked by it.
He added: “People ask if I am surprised, sadly I wasn’t surprised by the level of it and that says it all.
“This seems to happen all the time. I’m English and you saw all the [racist] abuse the English guys got at the European Championship Final.
“It’s sad but this is where we are right now. It so easy for people to abuse online. It’s so easy to put it out there.
As players we just have to try and ignore it. That’s all we can do right now.”
On the pitch, Newell insists it is vital Hibs show the defeat to Rangers does not completely throw Ross’ side off track.
A win at Ibrox would have taken the Leith side to the Premiership summit but they are now four points adrift of Steven Gerrard’s team.
He said: “We have been stewing over it for two weeks so we know how big this game is and how good a side Dundee United are and the challenges they’ll give us.
“At home, we fully want a win to put that marker back down and get us back to the form we were in because we’ve had a great start.
“We feel we’re heading in the right direction. We started really well against Rangers and we got the goal.
It’s been disgraceful to be honest, some of the stuff he’s had to deal with JOE NEWELL ON AFTERMATH OF PORTEOUS’ CHALLENGE
“Things were looking good and the red card has changed the game. Had it not been for that I think we would have won it.
“So there are loads of positives to take.”