Everton Football Club has issued a strong condemnation of the “threatening, racist, and misogynistic” abuse directed at Sandra Calvert-Lewin, the wife of striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on social media. The abuse followed her Instagram post praising her husband’s achievements after Everton’s final game at Goodison Park, where he scored 30 goals, making him one of the stadium’s top scorers.
In a firm statement, Everton described the behavior as “criminal,” emphasizing that such actions are contrary to the club’s values and those of the majority of its supporters. The club reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance towards discriminatory and abusive behavior and is cooperating with Merseyside Police and the Premier League to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that they are aware of the comments and working with Everton to find the culprits. A spokesperson for the force stated: “We are aware of racist and threatening social media comments directed towards the wife of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. To send such abhorrent messages to anyone online.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who joined Everton in 2016, has scored 71 goals in 272 appearances and was Everton’s Player of the Season in 2020/21. He has been an advocate against racism, sharing his experiences of discrimination from a young age and emphasizing the importance of education in combating racism.
This incident is part of a broader issue of racism in English football, where players and their families have been subjected to abuse. The Premier League and clubs have initiatives like “No Room For Racism” to address these issues, but incidents continue to occur, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to combat discrimination in the sport.
Everton urges anyone who sees or experiences … behavior to report it to the authorities … . The club will continue to offer full support to Dominic and his … during this time.
This situation underscores the importance of collective action from clubs, authorities, and fans to create a safe and inclusive environment in football, free from discrimination and abuse.
