League Two club to investigate vile racist messages sent to opposition player

Port Vale say they will investigate after numerous racist messages were sent to a Leyton Orient player following the sides' League Two game on Saturday.

Orient's Lawrence Vigouroux shared screenshots of vitriolic messages sent directly to him on his social media channels.

The goalkeeper shared the images, along with the caption: "Football such a beautiful game ruined by people like this."

Vale released a short statement, saying: "We are aware of an abusive message sent privately to a Leyton Orient player.

"Port Vale Football Club will not tolerate abuse of any kind towards officials, players, staff or supporters. The club is investigating."

One of the abusive messages sent to Lawrence Vigouroux. Credit: Twitter. ( Image:

@LawrenceV93/Twitter)

Leyton Orient wrote: "No one should face racist abuse in any circumstances, we're all with you Loz. The club will be formally reporting this and hope it's dealt with fully."

They later posted on Twitter with an image of Vigouroux and the message: "Hate won't win."

The messages have also been condemned by the Port Vale Supporters' Club.

They said: "It's come to our attention that Leyton Orient goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux has been subjected to racist abuse online.

Lawrence Vigouroux of Leyton Orient

"We, and our chair Mark Porter want to make clear that racism is never acceptable and has no place in football. No true Vale fan would subject anyone to racist abuse."

Yesterday's game saw Vale snatch two injury time goals to seal a 3-2 victory. It moved the Valiants up to third, a place ahead of Kenny Jackett's side.

The incident involving Vigouroux is the latest example of professional footballers being targeted with racial abuse online.

On Thursday, a West Bromwich Albion fan was jailed for eight weeks for racially abusing the club's midfielder, Romaine Sawyers, on social media.

Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney, a hugely vocal figure in the fight against racism and discrimination, recently spoke about how he gets abused on social media between "30 to 40 times a week".

Troy Deeney recently revealed that he gets roughly 30 to 40 abusive messages each week

Speaking about the issue, he said: "I think Covid has contributed to that, if we're talking honestly. I think people are fed up, annoyed and they are venting their frustrations at anything.

"It doesn't give them an excuse. I think it just shows who they truly are anyway.

"But yeah, whether it's a picture of me, my missus, my kids. There is no limit to people's anger and where they will vent that.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm a Marmite individual. Some people love me, some don't. But you can talk about my footballing ability all you want, I just don't understand why you have to talk about the colour of my skin."