Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha the subject of racist messages on social media

Wilfried Zaha showed the world the racial divide that still exists today.

On an ordinary Sunday matchday in the Premier League, Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha received a horrifying wake-up call. On Twitter, Zaha revealed the appalling messages sent his way by an Aston Villa fan, which included horrific threats and the Ku Klux Klan.

Instead of letting the messages dissolve in silence, Zaha showcased them to the world. West Midlands Police, home to Aston Villa, announced they would look into the whereabouts of the account’s owner. Just a short time later, that owner, a 12-year-old boy, was arrested.

In response to the developments, Zaha posted a powerful message to Twitter, in part, saying,

"It is not enough to be disgusted by these messages I received and move on. It isn’t enough to just say #notoracism . We need action, we need education, things need to change.”"

Both Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, opponents on the day, condemned the acts, with Palace expressing their support for Wilfried and desire to see the situation resolved. Villa responded with a similar message.

When will the attacks against athletes, particularly in soccer, reach an end?

While this situation met a rightful end, its existence in the first place is particularly concerning. Even without fans in the stands, a breeding ground for past racist attacks, fans have continued to oppose those of a different color, whether it be through social media or the Burnley skies.

It is further appalling when placed against the efforts of players to combat racism. Players wore “Black Lives Matter” on their jerseys for the first few games with patches for the entirety of the restart. Each team and official has taken a knee before the start of each match and the league has made its intolerance of racism astoundingly clear.

Despite those displays and the unambiguity of the message, these types of incidents continue to occur. Not just in English soccer, but for athletes and individuals across the globe. That is a horrendous reality. For as long as it exists, the need to protest and expose those for their wrongdoings just as Zaha did will grow alongside it.