Burnley Condemn Racist Abuse of Hannibal

Burnley have condemned racist abuse directed at midfielder Hannibal Mejbri following their 1-1 Premier League draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Tunisia international revealed the abuse on Instagram, sharing screenshots of the offensive messages. In a follow-up post, Mejbri wrote:

“It’s 2026 and there are still people like that. Educate yourself and your kids, please.”

Club Reports Abuse to Police and Meta

Burnley confirmed the incident has been formally reported to both the police and Meta, Instagram’s parent company.

In a strong statement, the club said:

“There is no place for this in our society and we condemn it unreservedly.”

Burnley reiterated their zero-tolerance stance toward discrimination and said they expect a “strong response” from the authorities, the Premier League and Meta to ensure the individual responsible is identified and investigated.

The club also pledged full support to Mejbri, highlighting that fans had already shown solidarity with the midfielder.

Incident Followed Tense Stamford Bridge Clash

During Saturday’s match, Mejbri was fouled in the build-up to Wesley Fofana receiving his first yellow card. The Chelsea defender was later sent off after picking up a second booking.

The match ended 1-1, with Burnley scoring a dramatic late equaliser.

Previous Case Involving Mejbri

This is not the first time Mejbri has been subjected to racial abuse.

In November 2025, Milutin Osmajic of Preston North End received a nine-game ban and a £21,000 fine after being found guilty of racially abusing Mejbri during a Championship fixture.

The recurrence of such incidents continues to highlight the persistent issue of racism in football — particularly online.

Growing Pressure on Social Media Platforms

Clubs and governing bodies have increasingly called for stronger accountability from social media companies to combat online abuse.

Burnley’s swift action signals their intent to pursue consequences and protect their players from discrimination.

As Mejbri himself made clear, the issue goes beyond football — it is a societal problem that demands education, responsibility and firm enforcement.