Liverpool Condemns Racist Abuse of Konate After Galatasaray Match

Reds slam 'dehumanising' abuse of defender Konate

Liverpool FC condemns 'dehumanising and cowardly' racist abuse of Ibrahima Konate on social media after Champions League match against Galatasaray.

Konate targeted by online racism, Liverpool FC speaks out...

Liverpool FC has strongly condemned the “dehumanising and cowardly” online racist abuse directed at defender Ibrahima Konate following the Champions League match against Galatasaray. The club's statement emphasized that such abuse is “rooted in hate” and has no place in football or society.

Konate was involved in a clash with Victor Osimhen, which led to the Galatasaray striker being substituted at half-time with a broken arm. The incident itself was not the focus of the racist abuse, which targeted Konate personally. Liverpool FC is supporting their player and working with authorities to address the issue.

Liverpool wrapped up their Europa League last-16 tie with a 4-0 win over AC Milan at Anfield, securing a 4-1 aggregate victory. The match was marked by an incident involving Victor Osimhen, which sparked a backlash on social media targeting centre-back Ibrahima Konate, prompting Liverpool to condemn the “utterly unacceptable” behaviour.

Liverpool FC is appalled and disgusted by the vile and abhorrent racist abuse directed at Ibrahima Konaté on social media.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 20, 2026

The Reds' strong performance saw them progress to the quarterfinals, but the focus shifted to the racist abuse directed at Konate. Liverpool issued a statement denouncing the abuse, emphasizing that such behaviour has no place in football or society. 

“It is dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate. Racism has no place in football, no place in society and no place anywhere - online or offline,” said a club statement.

“Our players are not targets. They are human beings. The abuse that continues to be directed at players, often hidden behind anonymous accounts, is a stain on the game and on the platforms that allow it to persist.”

Liverpool FC is urging social media companies to step up their efforts to tackle racist abuse, following the online targeting of defender Ibrahima Konate. The club described the abuse as “dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate,” emphasizing that it's time for social media platforms to take responsibility.

Liverpool is pushing for stronger action to combat online racism, saying it's unacceptable for such abuse to continue. 

“Social media companies must take responsibility and act now,” the statement said.

“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue. It must be confronted, challenged and eradicated - not tomorrow, but now.”

The UK police are investigating online racist abuse directed at four Premier League players, including Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare, Sunderland's Romaine Mundle, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, and Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri. The abuse occurred over a weekend in February, with Arokodare receiving racist messages after missing a penalty against Crystal Palace.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesman condemned the “abhorrent” abuse, stating that the government will pressure technology companies to provide greater protection for players. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has said it will continue to work to protect people from abuse, and ministers will hold them accountable.