Kevin Danso releases statement as Tottenham condemn racist abuse after Brighton draw

Kevin Danso has condemned racist abuse he received on social media after Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw with Brighton.

The defender lost possession just moments before Georginio Rutter scored the equaliser for Brighton in second half stoppage time.

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Spurs have therefore been dealt another blow to their survival hopes as they remain in the Premier League relegation zone.

However, Danso has been subjected to racist abuse in the aftermath of the match, and issued a statement on social media in response.

“Not the result we needed yesterday. We gave everything, we learn and we move,” he said on Instagram.

“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.”

Spurs also released a statement, saying: “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.

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“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 [email protected] 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.”