Police confirmed on Monday that they are investigating “abhorrent” racist abuse directed at four Premier League footballers over the weekend.

Tolu Arokodare of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Romaine Mundle of Sunderland were targeted on Sunday. Earlier, Wesley Fofana of Chelsea and Hannibal Mejbri of Burnley received similar abuse on Saturday following their clubs’ 1-1 draw.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, head of the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), said:

“There is absolutely no place for racial abuse, either online or in person, and anyone who believes they can hide behind their keyboards should think again. The UKFPU condemns this abhorrent behaviour and we will ensure that, through our dedicated team of officers, we do everything possible to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

Arokodare, who missed a penalty in Wolves’ 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, received racist messages from multiple online accounts. Mundle faced similar abuse after coming on as a substitute in Sunderland’s 3-1 loss to Fulham.

Kick It Out, the UK-based charity combating racism in football, condemned what it called an “appalling weekend” of abuse:

“But the sad fact is, we know it happens regularly. Action must follow. Players cannot be expected to tolerate this behaviour, and nor should anyone else.”

The Premier League issued a statement warning of “serious consequences” for offenders, emphasizing:

“Football is for everyone – there is no room for racism.”

However, Wesley Fofana expressed frustration at the lack of effective action, posting online:

“2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished. You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything.”

Recent examples of accountability include Nigel Dewale, who sent racist abuse to England defender Jess Carter during last year’s Women’s Euros and is set to be sentenced on March 25 after pleading guilty to malicious communication.

Meanwhile, UEFA has opened an investigation into claims by Vinicius Junior that he was racially abused on the pitch by Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match in Lisbon. Benfica has also launched its own inquiry after two fans were filmed making monkey gestures towards Vinicius.

The UKFPU and clubs continue to urge anyone with information about these incidents to come forward, underscoring a zero-tolerance stance on racism in football.