Luton Town Football Club has fiercely condemned another wave of racist abuse targeting striker Elijah Adebayo, demanding an end to discrimination and questioning, “Is it ever going to stop?” The latest incident occurred on Wednesday night after Adebayo, 26, scored his first goal of the season during the club’s 2-1 defeat to Sunderland. A discriminatory message was sent to Adebayo on Instagram, prompting Luton to respond with a strongly-worded statement expressing the club’s “anger, frustration, and sadness.”
In their statement, Luton denounced the “cowardice” of the online abuser, describing the individual as a “faceless racist” and challenging them to confront the player in person. “If you had the courage to come to Kenilworth Road and say it to his face,” the club stated, “you would be faced with everyone at Luton Town Football Club, standing side-by-side with Elijah.”
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has since disabled the account responsible for the abusive message. This incident is the latest in a disturbing pattern of abuse aimed at Adebayo. Just last October, Luton had reported multiple cases of similar abuse following matches against Tottenham and Nottingham Forest. The club’s statement serves as both a call to action and a plea for change as such incidents continue to cast a dark shadow over the sport.
The statement follows recent action by Luton, which has been a vocal advocate against racism in football. During the Premier League’s “No Room For Racism” campaign last season, the club educated staff about the impact of racist abuse on players and highlighted the emotional toll on Adebayo. “This is real life with real-life effects,” Luton said, underscoring the need for public awareness and support for players facing abuse.
The statement comes during Black History Month, a time dedicated to celebrating and commemorating the contributions of people from Black backgrounds. Luton’s message reinforces the ongoing battle against racism within the sport and beyond, as clubs and organizations continue to push for greater accountability and respect for all players.
