Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has confirmed that the squad held a team meeting following the racist abuse directed at Wesley Fofana after last weekend’s Premier League clash with Burnley.
Fofana was sent off late in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge after receiving a second yellow card, a result that further dented Chelsea’s hopes in the race for a top-four finish. However, events after the final whistle overshadowed the football itself.
Racist Abuse on Social Media
Following the match, Fofana revealed he had received racist messages on Instagram. The defender shared screenshots of the offensive content and expressed frustration that, despite ongoing anti-racism campaigns, meaningful consequences for perpetrators often seem absent.
He later posted a message highlighting his disappointment at the persistence of racism in 2026, questioning why stronger action is not consistently taken against offenders.
Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri was also targeted with abuse after the match. The 23-year-old publicly condemned the messages and called for better education to tackle discrimination at its roots.
Burnley responded swiftly with an official statement confirming the incident had been reported to Instagram’s parent company, Meta, and that the club would work with authorities and the Premier League to identify those responsible. They reiterated a zero-tolerance stance toward discrimination.
Club and League Condemnation
Chelsea released a strongly worded statement condemning the “vile online racist abuse” directed at Fofana. The club described the behaviour as abhorrent and pledged to work with relevant authorities and social media platforms to identify the perpetrators and pursue the strongest possible action.
The Premier League also issued a statement expressing solidarity with Fofana and Chelsea, reaffirming that racism has no place in football or wider society.
Rosenior Confirms Team Meeting
In the aftermath, Rosenior revealed that the squad met with Dr Michael Bennett, Chelsea’s head of performance wellbeing, to address the emotional and psychological impact of the incident.
The manager emphasised that players receive strong support both on and off the pitch. He acknowledged that it had been a difficult period for Fofana, given both the sending-off and the subsequent online abuse, but described the defender as mentally strong and fully engaged in training.
Rosenior stressed that racism — whether online or in person — should not exist in football or society. He admitted that, while anti-racism discussions are frequent, incidents like this still have a personal and emotional toll.
Social Media and Modern Football
Four Premier League players were subjected to racial abuse via social media over the same weekend. When asked whether he had encouraged players to step away from social platforms, Rosenior acknowledged the complexity of the issue.
He described social media as deeply embedded in the lives of modern players, particularly younger generations. While in an ideal scenario, players would ignore harmful messages, Rosenior admitted that footballers are human beings and inevitably affected by what they read.
He noted how easy it is for individuals to post hateful comments without facing immediate consequences and expressed hope that players focus on constructive feedback rather than the “noise” generated by harmful voices.
As Chelsea prepares for their upcoming clash with Arsenal, the focus will inevitably return to football matters. Yet the episode serves as another stark reminder of the work still required to eradicate racism from the sport.
For Rosenior and his squad, unity and resilience remain the immediate priorities — ensuring that incidents of hatred do not define the narrative or derail their ambitions for the remainder of the season.
