Khadija Shaw withdrew from Manchester City’s League Cup semi-final at Arsenal on Thursday night to protect her mental wellbeing having been subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse after the sides’ Women’s Super League game on Sunday.
Shaw made her 100th appearance for City when she came on 66 minutes into the 4-3 loss to Arsenal at City’s Joie Stadium.
The club reported the abuse suffered by the Jamaican striker, who has scored 86 goals for City, to the police and said they were fully supporting the player.
Speaking on Sky Sports, City manager Gareth Taylor was asked how Shaw is faring: “It’s hard to say, we left yesterday and weren’t able to bring her with us on the journey,” he said. “It’s really difficult for me to analyse. Who knows what goes on in that world? When you’re affected by things like that it’s really really difficult.
“I’ve not had time to have a good conversation with her about it but she knows and needs to know that the whole club are behind her in this.”
In a statement released on Tuesday , the club had said: “Manchester City were appalled to learn that Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw was subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse following Sunday’s fixture.
“Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game.
“Bunny has decided not to share the messages publicly so as not to give the oxygen of publicity to the vile individuals who sent them. The content has been shared with the authorities. An investigation will follow, and the club offers our full support to Bunny following the disgusting treatment she’s received.”
The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, the organisation responsible for the running of the WSL and Championship, said it was “shocked and saddened” by the abuse directed at Shaw. “Players, coaches and officials should be able to do their job without being subjected to abuse, either in person or online, and there is no place for it within women’s football or wider society,” it said.
