Newcastle United have contacted the police following reports that midfielder Joe Willock was subjected to racist abuse and threatening messages on social media. The abuse occurred after Newcastle’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday at St James’ Park.

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Willock Receives Racist Abuse Online

Willock, who came on as an 88th-minute substitute in the match, was targeted by an anonymous Instagram account following the game. The midfielder later posted a screengrab of the abhorrent direct messages, which included racial slurs and threats of violence aimed at him and his family.

In response, Willock wrote:

“I pray you and your family find God. And may him have mercy on you.”

This marks the second time in under a year that Willock has been targeted with racist abuse on Instagram. Previously, the club contacted the police after he received similar messages following a 2-1 defeat to Fulham in February 2025.

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Newcastle United Condemn Abuse and Call for Action

The club released a statement condemning the abuse and calling for social media companies to do more:

“We are disgusted by the racist abuse received by Joe Willock… Removing content and applying message filters is not enough. Meta must act to protect users and support the prosecution of those breaking the law.”

Newcastle confirmed that the matter has been reported to Northumbria Police, who are working alongside the UK Football Policing Unit to investigate.

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Reactions from Anti-Racism Organisations

Several anti-racism organisations have expressed outrage over the incident:

• Richard Offiong, campaign coordinator for Show Racism the Red Card, described the abuse as “distressing” and called for stronger action from social media platforms to identify perpetrators and remove harmful content.
• Kick It Out stated they were “disgusted” by the abuse and urged platforms to implement better protections for users, emphasizing the need for offenders to face consequences.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, responded by confirming that racist messages are against their rules and that they are cooperating with police investigations. They noted that direct messages (DMs) cannot be reviewed unless reported in-app.

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The Broader Issue of Online Racism in Football

The incident highlights the ongoing problem of racist abuse on social media targeting footballers. Clubs, players, and charities continue to call for tougher enforcement, education, and accountability to ensure online platforms are safe for users and perpetrators face real consequences.

Willock, a former Newcastle academy player, has faced repeated abuse, reinforcing the urgent need for meaningful action from both clubs and social media companies.