I wish I could tell you this was surprising. I wish I could write that racist abuse directed at footballers in Scotland is rare, shocking, something we rarely encounter. But I would be lying, and you would know it.
Emmanuel Fernandez and Djeidi Gassama, two Rangers players, were targeted with racist messages on Instagram following the club’s 2-2 draw with Livingston on Sunday. The messages included monkey emojis sent from the same account. Fernandez, who had scored to help Rangers come back from two goals down, shared a screenshot and called it “disgusting.” Gassama posted his own screenshot with a sick emoji. That is the reality of being a black footballer in Scotland in 2026.
The Response
Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating. A spokesperson said: “We are aware of offensive posts online and enquiries are at an early stage.” Rangers, to their credit, have condemned the abuse, though the club’s statement will do little to comfort two young men who opened their phones after a match and found hatred waiting for them.
Supporters reacted with anger and solidarity. “You are sickening,” one fan wrote directly to the abuser. Others called it “totally disgusting” and “disgraceful.” These are the right responses, and they matter, but they are not enough on their own.
The Bigger Picture
Fernandez had just scored a goal that kept Rangers in the title race. He is sitting second, four points behind Hearts, in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Premiership seasons in years. His contribution on the pitch was significant. His reward was a torrent of racial abuse from behind the safety of a screen.
This is not a new problem and it is not unique to Rangers or to Scotland. But the familiarity of it should make us angrier, not more resigned. Every time we shrug and say “it happens everywhere” or “social media is just like that,” we are giving ground to people who should be given nothing.
Social media platforms have the technology to detect this content before it reaches its targets. They choose not to deploy it aggressively enough because moderation costs money and controversy drives engagement. That calculation needs to change, and it will only change if there are consequences.
I hope Police Scotland identifies the person responsible. I hope the prosecution is swift and public. And I hope Fernandez and Gassama know that the coward who sent those messages speaks for nobody but themselves.
Scottish football has work to do on racism. It is not finished until a player can score a goal, go home, and check his phone without finding bile.
