Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw marked her return to Manchester City's Women's FA Cup lineup with an outstanding goal, contributing to a 3-1 victory over Leicester at Joie Stadium. Shaw's performance came amid distressing circumstances, as she faced racist and misogynistic abuse the previous weekend. The club promptly reported the incident to Greater Manchester Police, who are now investigating. Shaw, who did not participate in the League Cup win against Arsenal for mental health reasons, made her 100th appearance for Manchester City during this match.
Shaw's return to the pitch was met with unwavering support from both her club and the broader football community. Despite the abuse, she demonstrated resilience by coming off the bench in the 66th minute and scoring her 86th goal for City. The club's manager, Gareth Taylor, expressed uncertainty about Shaw's emotional state after their recent 2-1 win over Arsenal but assured that the club stands firmly behind her.
Manchester City has condemned the abuse as "disgusting treatment" and emphasized their commitment to supporting Shaw through the ordeal. The incident coincided with another unfortunate event involving Chelsea captain Millie Bright, who also received expletive insults. In response, Manchester City released a statement underscoring their zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination.
"Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game." – Manchester City
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City's men's team, echoed these sentiments by acknowledging the pervasive nature of such abuse worldwide.
"We would be lucky if this was just in world football. Unfortunately, it's in the whole entire world," – Pep Guardiola
In solidarity with Shaw, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) highlighted the tangible impact of online abuse on individuals.
"Footballers, like anyone who receives abuse through social media, are human beings." – PFA
The Women's Professional League League (WPLL) also expressed their dismay at the incidents involving both Shaw and Millie Bright.
"Players, coaches and officials should be able to do their job without being subjected to abuse, either in person or online, and there is no place for it within women's football or wider society." – WPLL
The club revealed that Shaw declined to publicize the abusive messages to prevent providing a platform for the offenders.
"Bunny has decided not to share the messages publicly so as not to give the oxygen of publicity to the vile individuals who sent them." – Manchester City
As investigations continue, Manchester City's management, including Taylor and Guardiola, remain committed to fostering an environment where players can thrive without fear of harassment. The PFA spokesperson stressed that online abuse transcends digital boundaries and has real-life repercussions.
Leave a Reply