Leeds United player Jayden Bogle was subjected to racist abuse online following the team's Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The club has expressed its outrage and pledged to work with authorities to identify those responsible and pursue the harshest available penalties.
In a statement, Leeds United declared, "Leeds United are appalled at the disgusting, racist social media abuse Jayden Bogle suffered following Saturday’s Premier League victory against Tottenham Hotspur. Leeds United condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms. There is no place for racism in football or society."
The posts, which included offensive emojis such as monkeys and bananas, are believed to have originated from four separate accounts. Bogle has the "full and unconditional support of the club and his team-mates," the statement added.
The abuse followed a controversial incident during the match where Bogle's challenge on Tottenham's Mathys Tel resulted in Tel being forced off the field with an injury. Bogle avoided a red card for the challenge.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke defended his player after the game, stating, "Jayden is one of the fairest players in the country. He is more like a butterfly than an eagle and he would not even foul a player on purpose, let alone injure them. It was never intentional and maybe this is why the VAR said it was not a red card."