Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso has spoken publicly after receiving racist abuse on social media following Spurs’ 2-2 Premier League draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on 18 April. The club strongly condemned the messages, describing them as “vile” and "dehumanizing," while also confirming the incident had been reported to police authorities.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso has spoken publicly after receiving racist abuse on social media following Spurs’ 2-2 Premier League draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on 18 April. The club strongly condemned the messages, describing them as “vile” and "dehumanizing," while also confirming the incident had been reported to police authorities.
Danso explained that he had previously faced similar discrimination earlier in his career while playing in Germany, but at that time he chose not to tell anyone about it. The Austria international said this occasion felt different because he believed it was important to acknowledge the abuse publicly and ensure people understood he had seen the comments directed at him.
The 27-year-old stressed that such behaviour would not affect either his performances or his mentality. According to Danso, those responsible were simply wasting their time because the abuse would not alter the way he approaches football or himself as a person.
The incident involving Danso happened during the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign, which focuses on promoting inclusion and combating discrimination within the sport. In response to the abuse, the league reiterated that discriminatory behaviour has no place either in football or in society more broadly.
Premier League officials also stated that individuals who target players with racist messages are not genuine supporters of the game. The organisation added that more action is still required and pledged to continue working alongside clubs, governing bodies, police forces, and social media platforms to tackle the issue.
Danso, who previously played for FC Augsburg and RC Lens before joining Tottenham permanently in May 2025, said he focuses on preventing the abuse from affecting his confidence or level of performance. He added that maintaining his standards on the pitch remains his priority despite the online attacks.
Speaking about his background, Danso said he encountered racism frequently while growing up in Austria because it is a predominantly white country. Over time, he believes he has learned how to manage those experiences and avoid letting them define him personally.
The defender made clear that racism should never be connected with football and insisted it has no place within the sport. His comments come amid several other recent incidents involving discriminatory abuse directed at players across English football.
Earlier in May, Merseyside Police arrested an Everton supporter during a match against Manchester City over alleged racist abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo. Another 47-year-old man had previously been arrested and charged after Semenyo, then playing for AFC Bournemouth, was also subjected to racist messages earlier in the season.
The UK Football Policing Unit additionally investigated abuse directed at four players during a single weekend in February, including Lutsharel Geertruida, Hannibal Mejbri, Wesley Fofana, and Tolu Arokodare.
