Dundee United star Johnny Russell has thanked fans for their support after sickening abuse was directed at him on Twitter for scoring one of the goals that knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup.
One tirade on Twitter expressed the hope Russell chokes on his sick and dies. There was also abuse urging the 21-year-old’s mum to commit suicide. The post came from the Twitter account @GaryWilson72 but has since been deleted.
The Scotland under-21 international replied by saying: ”Is this really what we’re dealing with? Sad.”
In a later message, another user brands Russell a ”rat” and says: ”Hope someone breaks your leg.”
A spokeswoman for Dundee United said the club were aware of the abuse but declined to comment further. She also said the player had not so far reported it to the police.
A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said no complaint about the matter had been received.
Russell received the backing of his followers on Twitter, with users uniting to condemn the person who posted the abuse.
One, John Docherty, said: ”Some people are just sick, hide behind the internet thinking they can say what they want. Shocking! Well played.”
Another of Russell’s followers, Steve Cairns, branded the person posting as the ”dregs of society”.
Brian Hay added: ”That’s a shocking tweet. Never mind the idiots and just keep enjoying your game.”
After receiving many more tweets in support, Russell later posted: “Thanks for the tweets everyone. No place for sickening stuff like that.”
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick condemned the attack and said the Scottish Government would clamp down on online abuse connected to football through new laws coming into force.
”People need to understand that this kind of vile message is not acceptable on social media or anywhere else,” he said. ”Abuse on the internet can be every bit as bad as other forms of abuse and should not be tolerated.
”This is an example of why the parliament passed the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 which comes into effect next month.
”New offences introduced include threatening communications and abusive postings on social media. We need to act and stop this kind of abuse.”
Brian Donnelly, director of Respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service, said he hoped Russell would make a formal complaint.
”Not only can Johnny Russell see it maybe his mum has seen it,” he said. ”We don’t want to see football players being abused in this way as we don’t want the notion you can say what you like on here.
”People have always been horrible and nasty to each other but people maybe don’t understand if they use Facebook or Twitter to vent their anger it is recorded.”
He said those looking for advice about online bullying should contact Respectme.
Russell scored United’s second goal in their 2-0 win at Ibrox on Sunday, helping them through to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Main photo by David Davies/PA Wire