Prince William condemns 'despicable' racism aimed at footballers

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has pledged to fund efforts to stamp out discrimination after several Premier League stars, including Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, were subjected to online abuse.

Rashford did not post screenshots of the offensive messages he received after the match, instead tweeting that it was "humanity and social media at its worst".

In a string of tweets to demanded people attempting to spread "hate and division" be made accountable for their actions.

Anthony Martial has requested Manchester United to beef up security around his house after being racially abused and having received death threats.

The Duke of Cambridge Prince William has called for racist abuse aimed at footballers to stop, calling it "despicable".

Twitter mentioned in an announcement: "Racist behaviour has no place on our service and once we establish accounts that violate any of the Twitter Rules, we take enforcement motion". I commend all those players, supporters, clubs and organizations who continue to call out and condemn this abuse in the strongest terms.

"I'm not sharing screenshots. Attractive colours that should only be celebrated".

"I'm a black man and I live every day proud that I am", he said on Twitterexternal-link.

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"We will continue to work with the rest of the game, the government and social media platforms to remove this - and all elements of - discrimination from our sport".

"No-one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. We utterly condemn it and it is encouraging to see other fans condemn this on social media also", United had said at that time.

"We've just got to help them and sometimes you help them by taking away the chance of expressing themselves, especially when they're anonymous".

Greater Manchester Police said a number of abusive comments directed at United players had been reported and the force would be "investigating these crimes thoroughly".

The social media outcry prompted PM Boris Johnson to admit that the free school meal parcels were "sub-standard" and further investigations were subsequently launched by the Department of Education and the Children's Minister, Vicky Ford.

Police also arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of racially abusing West Bromwich Albion midfielder Romaine Sawyers on Friday.

The club's Director of Communications, Charlie Brooks, said the United players are "sick" of the "hate-filled" abuse online and urged social media platforms to create verifiable and identifiable accounts so the perpetrators can be caught.

'These hateful words have no place anywhere in our society whether online or otherwise.