Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare has called for severe punishment for racist football fans after he suffered racial abuse following his side Wolves loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

Arokodare played the entire match as Wolves fell to a 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park and missed the opportunity to put the visitors ahead just before halftime after his penalty kick was comfortably saved by Dean Henderson.

Following the match, the 25-year-old posted screenshots of several racist messages he received from different accounts, which included monkey emojis and people calling him the N-word.

Arokodare said it was unacceptable for people to continue to boldly send such horrible messages without consequences describing them as taints to football.

“It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences. 

“These individuals should have no place in our game and collectively we have to take action to punish everyone who taints the sport like this, no matter who they are,” the forward said.

He became the third player to recently call on decision-makers to do more to punish racists after Wesley Fofana and Hannibal Mejbri took the same position after they both suffered racial abuse on social media following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Wolves has reiterated his support for Arokodare in a statement on Sunday, stating that they were disgusted by the racial attack directed at the player. 

“Wolves are disgusted by numerous instances of racist abuse, from multiple perpetrators, directed at Tolu Arokodare on social media following today’s fixture against Crystal Palace,” the club said.

Wolves added, “There is no place for racism – in football, online, or anywhere in society. We condemn this abhorrent and unlawful behaviour in the strongest possible terms. Tolu has our full and unwavering support. 

“No player should be subjected to such hatred simply for doing their job. We stand firmly alongside him, and alongside all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity.”

Furthermore, the club noted that it had reported the posts to relevant platforms and would work with the Premier League and appropriate authorities to fish out those behind the social media accounts for possible prosecution.