By Fahad Hamid,Total Apex Sports

Copyright yardbarker

Let’s be honest here – another day, another story about a footballer facing racist abuse online. But this time, it’s different. Jessica Naz, Tottenham’s talented winger, decided she wasn’t going to take it lying down anymore. After Wednesday night’s League Cup match against Aston Villa, Naz took to Instagram with a message that should make every decent human being both angry and proud at the same time.

“I was going to wait till after the game to speak because I’m done being quiet,” she wrote, revealing she’d been subjected to racial abuse in her DMs. And you know what? Good for her. It’s 2025, for crying out loud, and we’re still dealing with this garbage.

Why Tottenham’s Response Matters More Than You Think

Tottenham didn’t mess around with their response either. The club immediately released a statement calling the abuse “disgusting” and an “unacceptable and cowardly act.” They’re working with authorities and social media platforms to track down whoever thought it was acceptable to ruin someone’s birthday with racist messages. Yes, you read that right – this happened on Naz’s birthday. Because apparently, some people have absolutely no shame.

Tottenham’s swift action sends a clear message: they won’t tolerate this nonsense. It’s refreshing to see an organization actually backing their player instead of offering some weak, generic statement about “not condoning” bad behavior. Tottenham made it clear they stand with Naz, and honestly, it’s the bare minimum we should expect from any decent club.

The Bigger Picture Is Even More Depressing

Here’s where things get really frustrating. Naz’s experience isn’t some isolated incident – it’s part of a much larger, more disgusting pattern. A recent Women in Football survey revealed that 78% of women working in the sport have faced discrimination in the past year. Let that sink in for a moment. Nearly four out of five women can’t do their jobs without dealing with some form of abuse or discrimination.

For women from underrepresented minorities, the numbers are even worse, sitting at 81%. And here’s the kicker – over half of these women (56%) said nothing happened when they reported the discrimination. Nothing. Zilch. Zero consequences for the perpetrators.

When “Working Harder” Becomes a Survival Strategy

The survey data reveals something that should make every football fan’s blood boil. A staggering 86% of women believe they have to work harder than men to get the same recognition. Even 69% of men agree with this statement. Think about that for a second – even the guys know the system is rigged.

Jessica Carter, the Gotham FC defender, perfectly summed up the psychological toll this takes. She admitted feeling “almost scared” to play in the UEFA Women’s Euro final because of the racist abuse she’d received. She even felt relief when white players missed penalties alongside Lauren James, knowing it would reduce the racist backlash. That’s not normal. That’s not okay.

Social Media Platforms: Part of the Problem or the Solution?

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – social media platforms. These companies make billions from user engagement, but when it comes to protecting users from abuse, they’re about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Sure, they’ll issue statements about “taking action” and “implementing stronger measures,” but the abuse continues.

Tottenham mentioned they’re working with social media platforms to identify the abusers, which is great. But wouldn’t it be nice if these platforms were proactive instead of reactive? Instead of waiting for high-profile cases to force their hand, maybe they could actually invest in systems that prevent this garbage from reaching players in the first place.

The Real Cost of Staying Silent

One of the most telling statistics from the Women in Football survey is that 36% of respondents chose not to report abuse because they didn’t think anything would be done. Another 34% didn’t trust the reporting process. When more than one-third of people experiencing discrimination feel helpless about getting justice, the system is broken.

Naz’s decision to speak out publicly shows incredible courage. She could have dealt with it quietly, reported it through official channels, and hoped for the best. Instead, she chose to shine a spotlight on the problem. That takes guts, especially when you know speaking up might make you a bigger target.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The truth is, we shouldn’t need surveys and statistics to tell us that racism and sexism are problems in football. We see it every week. Players get abused, clubs issue statements, authorities promise investigations, and then… nothing changes. The cycle continues.

But maybe, just maybe, stories like Naz’s will start to shift the conversation. When players refuse to stay quiet, when clubs actually back their players with actions instead of just words, and when fans start calling out the toxic behavior in their own communities, things might actually improve.

Tottenham’s handling of this situation shows that change is possible when organizations decide to take a stand. Now we need to see if other clubs will follow their lead or continue with business as usual.

Jessica Naz deserves better. All women in football deserve better. And frankly, football fans deserve better than having their sport constantly tainted by the actions of pathetic individuals who think hiding behind a keyboard gives them license to spread hate.It’s time for everyone – clubs, platforms, authorities, and fans – to stop treating racism and sexism as inevitable parts of the game and start treating them as problems that actually can be solved.