Chelsea Football Club has strongly denounced the racial abuse directed at Nicolas Jackson on social media following their loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Despite a hard-fought match that ended in a 1-0 defeat at Wembley, Jackson faced unwarranted criticism after missing three key opportunities during the game.
In an official statement, Chelsea expressed their firm stance against all forms of discrimination and reiterated their zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents. They vowed to fully support any criminal investigations and take decisive action, including imposing bans, against any individual found responsible, particularly if they are season ticket-holders or members of the club.
Nicolas Jackson, a 22-year-old forward from Senegal, joined Chelsea from Villarreal last summer and has made significant contributions throughout the season, scoring a total of 13 goals, including 10 in the Premier League. Despite facing scrutiny, Jackson has been praised by manager Mauricio Pochettino for his dedication and performance on the field.
While acknowledging Jackson’s relative lack of experience compared to club legends like Didier Drogba, Pochettino emphasized his unwavering support for the young striker. He highlighted Jackson’s contributions to the team and expressed confidence in his continued growth and improvement in the seasons to come.
