Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says online abuse of striker Kai Havertz and his wife has “dire consequences” and must be “eradicated from the game”.
Havertz was criticized for his performance in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United after he missed a golden chance to win the match in normal time and then saved a penalty in the shootout as United won 5-3 on penalties after a 1-all draw :1 draw.
She shared her German wife, Sophia screenshots of the “shocking” abuse she suffered on social media while playing including threats to the couple’s unborn child.
Arsenal reported the abuse to police and is working with a specialist data company to identify the perpetrators, but Arteta, as he spoke ahead of Wednesday’s north London derby against Tottenham, said more needed to be done.
“It’s amazing, honestly,” he said. “We really need to do something about this, because accepting it and hiding it has terrible consequences.
“It’s something we need to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and outcome-dependent.
“There is no other industry like this. When we played Ipswich on December 27, we won 1-0 with Kai Havertz scoring a goal. The whole stadium sings “Waka, Waka” (his chant). It was 20 days ago Where is the perspective?
“We are all responsible. This is a really serious matter. It affects me. It applies to him and everyone in the industry.
“We can accept it and say, ‘it’s our job,’ but there are limits and you have to draw the line. We attach great importance to technology and what’s next in football.
“The next thing in football it should be banned. This can’t happen. That’s all”.
Meta, the owner of Instagram, removed the content for violating its rules.
