Abdoulaye Doucoure: Everton and Liverpool release statement to condemn racist abuse after Merseyside derby | OneFootball

Merseyside clubs working with police to conduct investigation

Everton and Liverpool have released a joint statement to condemn the racist abuse directed at Abdoulaye Doucoure after the Merseyside derby.

The midfielder was sent off after the full-time whistle as tempered boiled over. James Tarkowski smashed in a 98th-minute volley to earn Everton a dramatic 2-2 draw, and leave Liverpool dropping two points in the title race.

Following the match, Doucoure was targeted with racist messages on social media.

A joint statement by the two clubs said: "Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs are aware of - and condemn in the strongest possible terms - racist abuse received by Abdoulaye Doucoure following Wednesday night's Merseyside derby.

"Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated.

"Together, the two clubs will work with Merseyside Police who are conducting an investigation with the aim of identifying the individuals responsible.

"We also encourage people who witness or experience online abuse to report and highlight it to the social media platforms on which it appears.

"We must all, including the social media companies, take a zero-tolerance stance. Platforms need to take accountability and action to ban such abusers.

"Racism and hate has no place online, in our stadia or in our communities."

Doucoure’s sending off means he will miss Everton’s trip to Crystal Palace this weekend, with his manager David Moyes frustrated to lose the midfielder.

Asked about the red card incident, Moyes said: "I didn't see it from where I was.

“I have had a chance to see it and I'm disappointed because Doucoure played really well tonight and I'm going to now lose him because he's got a second yellow card which turned into a red.

"The emotions were running high here all night, the stadium was at fever pitch. You could see what it meant to supporters at the end of the game, the crowd was rocking. It was one of the big nights."