Liverpool and Everton have strongly condemned the racist abuse directed at Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure following a dramatic 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. The abuse surfaced online after Doucoure was involved in a heated confrontation at full-time, leading to his dismissal along with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and manager Arne Slot.
Everton’s captain James Tarkowski had salvaged a late equalizer in the seventh minute of added time, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home supporters. However, Doucoure’s celebrations in front of Liverpool fans ignited tensions, prompting Jones to react aggressively. Referee Michael Oliver intervened swiftly, issuing red cards to both players, as well as Slot after the final whistle.
Following the match, Doucoure shared a social media post celebrating the historic derby—the last to be played at Goodison Park before Everton’s move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. However, the post attracted numerous racist comments, prompting outrage from both clubs.
In a rare united front, Liverpool and Everton released a joint statement condemning the abuse and confirming that they would cooperate with Merseyside Police in identifying those responsible.
“Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated,” the statement read. “Together, the two clubs will work with Merseyside Police, who are conducting an investigation with the aim of identifying the individuals responsible.”
The clubs also urged social media platforms to take stronger action against racism, emphasizing the need for a zero-tolerance approach.
“We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears,” the statement continued. “We must all, including the social media companies, take a zero-tolerance stance. Platforms need to take accountability and action to ban such abusers.”
Racism remains a persistent issue in football, with players frequently subjected to abuse both on and off the pitch. Premier League clubs and governing bodies have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement from social media companies to combat discrimination.
Everton fans have rallied around Doucoure, offering their support in the wake of the incident. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate, with hopes that those responsible for the hateful messages will be held accountable.
