Trabzonspor midfielder, Mikel Obi, was forced to hold back the tears while speaking about the racial abuse he and his family suffered on social media.
In an emotional interview after the teamâs 5-0 thrashing of Erzurumspor in the Turkish Cup quarter-final first-leg win on Tuesday, the former Chelsea midfielder said the attacks were scary, especially the ones directed to his girlfriend Olga Diyachenko and four-year-old twin daughters.
âAfter the game on Saturday, I started getting messages on my Instagram, even my girlfriend getting instant messages of racism and hatred, they were very scary messages towards me and my family and kids. Thereâs no place for this,â he told Turkish TV.
âI donât think this should be happening and I think these people should be held responsible. They shouldnât be allowed to come to games.
âIâm very disappointed with this â especially my girlfriend, my family, my kids. They are only four years old, why do you talk about my kids?
âI am very sad about this, itâs a very disturbing time for me.â
Mikel, says he is happy with the positive response he has received from fans around the world and fellow footballers after he was racially attacked by the Fenerbahce supporters.