Police Scotland has launched an investigation after Rangers players Emmanuel Fernandez (24) and Djeidi Gassama (22) were subjected to racist abuse on social media following Sunday’s draw with Livingston, BBC Sport reports.
Both players shared screenshots of offensive messages sent to their accounts after the 2-2 result, which dented Rangers’ title hopes in the Scottish Premiership. The club described the abuse as “unacceptable” and confirmed it had reported the posts to platform owner Meta, while offering full support to the players involved.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said enquiries were at an early stage, but stressed the seriousness of the matter. Rangers reiterated their commitment to protecting their players, saying no individual should face abuse “tied to the colour of their skin” and praising Fernandez and Gassama for speaking out.
The incident comes amid a troubling rise in online abuse across football, with players in multiple leagues targeted in recent days. Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out described it as part of an “appalling weekend”, highlighting the persistent challenge facing the game.
For Rangers, the priority remains the welfare of their players, but the episode serves as another stark reminder of the ongoing fight against racism in football.
GFN | Finn Entwistle