Greater Manchester Police has confirmed the launch of an investigation into the racist comments sent to a number of Manchester United players over social media.
The force confirmed the intervention in an official statement released yesterday.
It comes as after a number of prominent Premier League players revealed that they have received racist abuse in the past seven days, with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial having all been targeted, alongside Romaine Sawyers of West Bromwich Albion, and Chelsea’s Reece James.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was aware of a number of incidents having occurred on social media between Wednesday 27th – Saturday 30th January.
The statement read: “We are aware of a number of Manchester United football players suffering abuse on social media accounts between [Wednesday and Saturday]. Nobody should be subject to such abuse and it is deeply upsetting not only to those who suffer it, but to all those who come across this awful language too.
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“These hateful words have no place anywhere in our society whether online or otherwise.
“A number of these comments have been reported to us and we are liaising with those involved to provide support and we will be investigating these crimes thoroughly.”
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#STATEMENT | GMP statement regarding a number of hate comments made online towards football players. We will continue to take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously. pic.twitter.com/j6hSvjkBGR
In a series of tweets on Saturday night, 22-year-old Wythenshawe-born Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford – who was last year awarded an MBE for his ongoing work fighting child food poverty – revealed that he had been the target of racial abuse, but had chosen not to share its contents.
They were sent to the England striker following Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal, and the striker responded describing the comments as “humanity and social media at its worst”.
He continued: “Yes I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am.
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“No one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different, so sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here”.
Humanity and social media at its worst. Yes I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am. No one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here ??
In a follow-up tweet, Rashford stated that he would not be posting / linking to examples of the racial abuse he had received, adding that: “It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them”.
He continued: “I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated”.
The official statement issued by Greater Manchester Police joins statements released by several other authorities and governing bodies, including the FA (Football Association), which had reiterated its commitment to clamping down on discrimination of all kinds earlier on Saturday.
An FA statement read: “We are united with all of football in our abhorrence of any racist abuse,
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“This is not acceptable in any part of society.
“We will continue to work with the rest of the game, the government and social media platforms to remove this – and all elements of – discrimination from our sport.”
Earlier in the week, Manchester United released an official statement addressing racial abuse received by players following a Premier League fixture against Sheffield United on Wednesday 27th January, which read: “Everyone at Manchester United is disgusted by the racial abuse received by players via social media after last night’s game.
“We utterly condemn it and it is encouraging to see other fans condemn this on social media also.
“Manchester United has zero tolerance of any form of racism or discrimination and a long-standing commitment to campaigning against it through our All Red All Equal initiative.
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“Identifying these anonymous mindless idiots remains problematic.
“We urge social media platforms and regulatory authorities to strengthen measures to prevent this kind of behaviour.“
Addressing the recent incidents, a spokesperson for Facebook – which also owns Instagram – said: “There is no place for racism on Facebook and Instagram and we are committed to removing it when we find it. We know there is more to do and we will continue to work closely with clubs, players and football authorities to investigate instances of discrimination and collectively tackle this issue.”
A statement released by Twitter read: “Racist behaviour has no place on our service and when we identify accounts that violate any of the Twitter Rules, we take enforcement action.
“We have proactively engaged and continue to collaborate with our valued partners in football to identify ways to tackle this issue collectively and will continue to play our part in curbing this unacceptable behaviour – both online and offline.”
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The incidents also come after it was confirmed that the UK government last week held a meeting with several leading black figures within the game to discuss the problem of online abuse, and they are expected to present a new online harms bill before parliament this year.
The government says this bill will “require tech firms to take action so that what is unacceptable in the street and in stands is unacceptable online too”.
News
Police issue urgent appeal to help find missing pregnant woman
Danny Jones
Police in Longsight and Moss Side have shared an urgent appeal to help find a pregnant woman who went missing from Manchester this past Thursday.
The 34-year-old, thus far identified only as Jessica, was last seen around 7pm on 6 November.
Believed to be a Longsight local, she was last spotted in the area heading in the direction of Wythenshawe, but also has connections to other Greater Manchester areas.
It has now been over four days since she was most recently seen in person; her friends, family and authorities are understandably growing worried about her welfare.
— Longsight & Moss Side Police (GMP) (@GMPLongsight) November 10, 2025
Described as a white female with long brown hair, she was wearing a big coat and leggings at the time of her disappearance.
While details like her height and particulars surrounding clothing still remain unclear, she is heavily pregnant at around seven months with a noticeable bump.
Obviously, given her pregnancy, she is considered a vulnerable missing persons case.
Sharing a follow-up statement after the original post was shared by Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Longsight and Moss Side’s neighbourhood policing team added: Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about [Jessica] and want to make sure she is found safe and well.
They say that “extensive enquiries” have also been received and looked into since she was initially reported missing to us.
She is also said to have connections not only to the borough of Stockport but people in Manchester city centre, as well.
Officers are therefore asking anyone with any info they think might be helpful; you can contact the services via 101 quoting MSP/06A3/000/1558/25. As always, in the case of emergencies, please dial 999immediately.
Global governing body officially recognises Super League Basketball in positive push for the British game
Danny Jones
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the global governing body for professional basketball, has officially recognised the UK’s Super League Basketball competition.
Formerly known as the British Basketball League, our domestic division has been through quite a turbulent time over the past couple of years, with teams disbanding, rebranding, and the organisation being completely overhauled from the ground up.
One of those in question was our very own local team, now known simply as Manchester Basketball, along with several other teams changing names, badges and more in line with the ‘new dawn’ for pro ball in our country.
Despite the second season of SLB being well underway, this latest chapter has still had a fair amount of teething problems and significant obstacles, with FIBA having previously suspended the British Basketball Federation’s (BBF) from licensing domestic men’s club competitions earlier this year.
Super League Basketball (SLB) is proud to announce that FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, has officially recognised SLB.
It continues: “This landmark decision marks a significant breakthrough for the sport across the UK and allows SLB and its member clubs to accelerate ambitious plans to nurture talent, enhance venues, and expand the top-tier league’s reach both domestically and internationally.
“Crucially, FIBA’s recognition also lifts the ban on Great Britain’s men’s national team competing on the international stage.”
As a result, they go on to explain that the league will now play “a pivotal role in the staging of Great Britain’s FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers fixture on 27 November” – which also serves as a huge plus for elite national programmes, both male and female.
Sanjay Bhandari MBE, who is currently serving as the Interim Independent Chair of Super League Basketball, commented: “We have been working quietly and diligently to secure a sustainable and positive pathway for top-flight basketball in the UK.
“We extend our thanks to the leaders of FIBA’s Task Force for their cooperation and continued support throughout this process. Together, we have reached a solution that gives our clubs the confidence they deserve and provides our fans with peace of mind after a challenging period for the sport…
“FIBA’s recognition is transformative and means that our plans to drive SLB forward as an ambitious, high-growth sports organisation can progress at pace. We look ahead with excitement as we work closely with FIBA, UK Sport and government to ensure the sport achieves the success it deserves across all areas.” With the latest campaign having tipped off in September, they’ve stood tall and steadfast.
The decision comes after a task force with dispatched by FIBA to consult with relevant SLB stakeholders and sporting authorities, which the result being an outcome that benefited both parties: i.e. the body recognising that they represent the best course for “safeguarding the stability and integrity of the sport.”
Sharing their own comment on the watershed breakthrough, FIBA added: “To ensure the stability and continuity of top-tier men’s basketball in Great Britain during this period of suspension, FIBA has entered into a direct recognition agreement with Super League Basketball.
“This agreement provides a framework for the organisation and governance of domestic competitions while preserving regulatory integrity.”
“FIBA, through its Task Force, will continue to work closely with BBF and all relevant stakeholders, including UK Sport and the UK Government, to support BBF in becoming a self-sustaining organisation and to secure the long-term stability and growth of men’s basketball in Great Britain.”
We’re glad this long, drawn-out period of uncertainty has wrapped up in plenty of good time for the competition to now focus on the fast-approaching finals early next year. It’s also a nice bonus that they’re happening right here in Greater Manchester.
The Manc -
1st February 2021 
