As an snapshot of racist abuse that the players still face regularly, last weekend was instructive.
From the lower leagues in Scotland to the main divisions for men and women in England, no one was immune to the bile that accumulated, mainly on social networks.
The load sheet was as follows, and these are only the incidents that were reported in the media:
- Friday, January 31 – Michael Nottingham (Livingston)
- Sunday, February 2 – Marvin Kaleta (Motherwell) and Bunny Shaw (women from Manchester City)
Kaleta de Motherwell was subject to alleged racial abuse after the game with Celtic, while Livingston Nottingham was also attacked after the championship game against Falkirk.
Newcastle reported comments made online about Willock after his defeat at Fulham, and Shaw from City received racist and misogynist messages after the defeat against Arsenal in the Super League Women's.
Michael Nottingham of Livingston was attacked after the championship game against Falkirk
Kaleta de Motherwell was subject to alleged racial abuse after the game with Celtic
City Shaw received racist and misogynistic messages after the loss against Arsenal
Newcastle reported online comments on Willock after the defeat of Hered Home A Fulham
When asked about racist abuse in Scotland, a SPFL spokesman told Mail Sport: 'These online publications received by two SPFL players are shameful.
'We fully support any step that our clubs and our authorities identify the people involved.
“Social networks provide a large platform for clubs to get positively involved with their followers, but these sites are often abused by a meaningless minority and also corresponds to social media companies actively fighting these problems.”
Here, Mail Sport listens to two former players about their experiences of racist abuse … and what can be done.
Marvin Bartley
Racism is hard. It is really difficult. The best way I can describe it is that it is like being cut by someone.
The first time it happened to me on social networks in Scotland, I had been playing in an Edinburgh derby in Easter Road.
The guy who did later apologized to me, because he said he did not realize how bad it sounded when he was writing it.
When things like this happen, it is obviously deeply emotional. I remember gone to the bathroom and read a message immediately after the game and began to cry. Probably more by frustration than anything else. It hurts, and then you get angry.
There are all kinds of emotions. Your teammates make sure they are fine, and then you are going home and you are in a dark place again, because all you do is transmit that message again and again on your head.
Marvin Bartley let himself cry after the abuse he received on social networks
You wonder: “Why do people send these things”?
Then, at the same time, you think: “Why am I doing this? It's worth it?
Then you become more determined. These people are a minority and all lovely people far exceed the negatives. However, he still sticks.
You can have thousands of people who are kind to you, but that person who says something is really painful, those are the messages you remember the most. Which is horrible.
I have had an incident before someone recorded me warming me and racially abused me, with some of the worst languages I have heard. I have had horrible messages on social networks. It is simply horrible. It takes you to a very, very dark and lonely place.
Probably, for me, what did the most difficult thing was when my mother found him.
At that time, I was in Scotland and in my thirty years, and she just wanted her to return home because, at the end of the day, she was still her son. Listening to your parents on the phone crying, because someone has racially abused you, makes it very difficult. You cannot think about the results in the field, it is only the abuse that persists.
Now I am emotionally separated from everything and has a minimum effect, that helps me help others in a similar position, because now I can support them when this kind of thing happens.
I hope, somehow, to have been able to help those affected by the alleged incidents against Michael Nottingham of Livingston and Marvin Katela of Motherwell last weekend. I would like to tell me that this would have happened, but I am no longer.
Cristian Montano from Livingston received a message with abuses directed against him as well. Having had such a positive result in the field and then seeing that is really disappointing.
Cristian was at home with his partner and son and were trying to distract him, but he couldn't even think about the game. It became everything about what was written. That has a real effect on people.
Do I think that racism is more frequent now than ever? I think it's hard to determine. Now it looks more, because social networks make it much more accessible.
Twenty years ago, for example, someone had to do it on the face or terraces, but that does not mean that it was not happening behind them.
Now, on social networks, people simply come out and say what they want. Social networks are a big problem. Anyone can create a social networks account, go and abuse another person, and then eliminate it almost instantly. There is no real return.
It is a very difficult problem to solve, but I think that pressing the government to obtain more support in this would be a great idea. Social networks do nothing. For them, these are the numbers and, ultimately, the money that comes with that.
Personally, it would not be for great punishments against clubs, such as points deductions, because what would prevent someone from one club, to go to the position of another club and shout abuse?
Or pretending that they are the fans of another club on social networks? I wouldn't put it beyond people doing that. I do not want people to have control of the masses. You can go to a game with 25,000 followers, and one or two people are causing problems.
Are you really going to punish everyone for that? For me, I wouldn't sit well. I prefer to go to individuals and punish them.
Hits people in their pocket and where it hurts financially. We should be doing the same with social media companies. If you did that, they would surely change your perspective. There must be a deterrent element for all this, but at this time, that deterrent is insignificant.
Wait for a change? Yes, always alive in hope. I try to concentrate on the positive. It is refreshing at least, seeing the people who shout this type of behavior. Positive aspects far exceed the negatives.
Kevin Harper
I think we need to start seeing actions and not just words.
We could sit around the table for years and nothing changes. From FIFA to UEFA, these organizations must be willing to take a position, and I don't think they do a position large enough about racism
For me, the idea of deduction of points affects clubs more than anything. That will make people stand up and realize, not just hide behind the statements.
Sometimes you have to put your head above the parapet and say that this type of behavior is not acceptable. For me, football only accepts it.
Kevin Harper demands significant measures against racist abuse
The SFA could take reins on this and be the first to implement a real change.
Clubs perform many tick boxes around diversity, but are there significant conversations about the elimination of this? It seems to be raising your ugly head more prominent than ever.
I think (social networks) is worse.
It goes back to the fact that it is easier to racially abuse a footballer, because there are many different platforms.
The biggest problem is that nothing is really being done on social platforms.
At least in the past, they would have to say it to your face, so you knew where you came from and could deal with that.
It is horrible to say that it is better to have it on the face, but now they are only cowards that hide behind the keyboards who think they can say anything. They can, because there is nothing there to stop them.
I can guarantee that there is much more that are not reported.