Nigeria’s Tolu Arokodare targeted by racist abuse after Wolves’ defeat to Crystal Palace

Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare has become the latest Premier League player to suffer racist abuse online, following Wolverhampton Wanderers’ narrow 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the English Premier League fixture on Sunday.

The forward was subjected to a stream of racist and offensive messages after a missed penalty during the match, with social media once again becoming the platform for discriminatory attacks. What should have remained a footballing moment instead escalated into a disturbing episode of online abuse.

Arokodare responded by sharing screenshots of the hateful messages on his official Instagram account, a move aimed at exposing the perpetrators and drawing public attention to the continued presence of racism in the game. His action has since sparked conversations about accountability and the urgent need for stronger measures to protect players.

The incident adds to a troubling pattern seen in recent days. Wesley Fofana faced similar abuse after Chelsea’s meeting with Burnley, while Hannibal Mejbri was also targeted, reinforcing concerns that such behaviour is becoming alarmingly frequent.

In a brief reaction, Arokodare expressed shock that these violations persist without sufficient consequences, insisting that racism must have no place in football. He called for collective action to preserve the integrity and image of the sport.

After the incident, Wolverhampton Wanderers issued a statement affirming their full support for the striker and reiterating their zero tolerance for discrimination.

The club confirmed it would cooperate with authorities to identify those responsible and pursue legal action where necessary.