Former Nigeria international Emmanuel Okoduwa has strongly condemned the racial abuse targeted at Super Eagles and following Wolves’ 1-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace. Okoduwa described the offensive attacks as unacceptable and urged football authorities and social media platforms to take decisive action against perpetrators of such behaviour.
The abuse began after Arokodare missed a penalty in the match, with numerous racist messages directed at him on social media. Okoduwa said that racially insulting a player for a performance mistake is “absolutely absurd” and reflective of “a deficiency in character,” insisting that there is no place for such discrimination in football or society.
His comments align with broader condemnation from several clubs and organisations after recent online abuse incidents. Wolverhampton Wanderers have issued a strong statement denouncing the racist messages as “abhorrent and unlawful,” pledging full support for Arokodare and vowing to work with the Premier League, authorities and digital platforms to identify those responsible.
Editorial
Okoduwa’s stance highlights increasing frustration among former players and pundits about the persistence of online racism in sport. Despite widespread condemnation campaigns and efforts by leagues to promote inclusivity, incidents like this show that discriminatory abuse remains a significant issue, particularly on anonymous social media platforms.
The fact that Arokodare’s abuse followed a missed penalty underlines how quickly online criticism can escalate into unacceptable and harmful behaviour. Football authorities, clubs, and social networks are being urged to move beyond statements and work more proactively to trace and sanction online abusers, including potential legal action where applicable.
For the Nigerian football community and fans of the Super Eagles, support for Arokodare has been strong with many emphasising that performance errors are part of football and should never attract racist attacks. The collective pushback may help spur more effective action against discrimination in sport and public discourse.
Did You Know?
- Ex-Nigeria international Emmanuel Okoduwa condemned the racist abuse directed at Arokodare on social media.
- The abuse followed Wolves’ 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace and a missed penalty by Arokodare.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers labelled the online abuse “abhorrent and unlawful” and pledged support for the striker.
- Okoduwa described racially targeting a player as “absolutely absurd” with no place in football.
- Clubs and leagues are increasingly calling for stronger action against racial discrimination online.
