Tottenham’s Kevin Danso issues defiant statement after suffering racist abuse

Tottenham defender Kevin Danso has issued a defiant statement after suffering racist abuse following Saturday’s draw with Brighton.

The Austria international was in the starting XI for Spurs against the Seagulls, playing at centre-back alongside Micky van de Ven.

Despite twice taking the lead, the game finished 2-2, with Brighton scoring an injury time equaliser through Georginio Rutter.

Danso lost possession in the build-up to that late goal and revealed on social media that he was sent racist abuse online after the match.

The 27-year-old wrote on Instagram: ‘Not the result we needed yesterday. We gave everything, we learn and we move.

‘I’ve also seen the comments. The racist abuse has no place in this game or anywhere. But it doesn’t define me, and it won’t distract me from what is important. I know who I am, what I stand for, and why I play.

‘Now it’s about staying focused, working harder, and coming back stronger for the next games. We keep pushing, we keep believing, and we give our all every single time we step on that pitch.

‘Stronger. Together. On to the next.’

Tottenham have also issued a statement in support of the player they signed from Lens last year.

A club statement read: ‘Since yesterday’s fixture against Brighton, which took place during the Premier League’s No Room For Racism weekend, Kevin Danso has been, and continues to be, subject to significant and abhorrent racist abuse on social media.

‘We have heard and seen vile, dehumanising racism. Behaviour that is without doubt a criminal offence. It will not be tolerated.

‘The club is taking immediate action. We are reporting all identified content to the Metropolitan Police and to the appropriate authorities in the country where perpetrators reside, as well as to relevant social media platforms. We will push for the strongest possible action against each and every person we identify.

‘Kevin has our complete and unconditional support as a player and as a person. No one at this club will ever stand alone in the face of this.

‘Nothing about form or league position can ever excuse or explain racist abuse. There is no connection between performance on the pitch and the right to target a player with discrimination. Criticism of performances is part of the game. Racism is not.

‘We work with specialist third parties dedicated to monitoring online abuse, investigating incidents and identifying perpetrators.

‘Abusers could face custodial sentences, football banning orders, criminal records, fines, community orders or police-mandated educational programmes. We have successfully secured criminal convictions following abuse of our staff and players, including individuals based overseas, and we have also issued indefinite Club bans.

‘We call on X, Instagram and all platforms to act quickly and decisively when racist abuse is reported. We also encourage anyone who sees abuse of this kind to report it directly to us at report@tottenhamhotspur.com so we can take the strongest possible action.

‘There is no place for racism at Tottenham Hotspur. There is no place for racism in football.’

The draw on Saturday left Spurs in the relegation zone, one point adrift of West Ham in 17th.