The wife of Arsenal player Kai Havertz has shared abusive messages she received on social media following Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Sophia Havertz shared two posts on her Instagram Story on Monday, including one in which someone threatened to “butcher” her unborn baby.
Arsenal were knocked out of the cup after losing on penalties to holders United. German striker Havertz missed a match-winning chance at the Emirates Stadium by shooting from close range, then saw a penalty saved in the shootout.
Sophia Havertz expressed her disgust at the abuse she received after the match.
“For anyone to think it’s okay to write something like this is so shocking to me… I hope you’re ashamed of yourself,” she posted.
In response to the threat against her baby, she posted: “I don’t even know what to say but please guys be more respectful. We are better than this…”
Football authorities and police have tried to combat online abuse of players.
The English Football Association announced last year it would provide funding of around £25,000 ($32,000) to help police crack down on incidents at the European Championship.
At the previous Euro 2021, England players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were subjected to racist abuse on social media after missing penalties in a penalty shootout defeat to Italy in final.
World governing body FIFA has set up a social media protection service which it says protects players, teams and officials from online abuse by keeping their social feeds free of hate.
During the 2023 Women’s World Cup, 20% of players received discriminatory, abusive or threatening messages, specifies the SMPS, around half of which were anti-homosexual, sexual or sexist.
