Racist Abuse is something football has yet to successfully kick out of the game, and it has manifested in the form of online abuse towards Hull City striker Robinio Vaz.
The Tigers have had an excellent start to their return to the Premier League, winning their first two games of the season.
Off the pitch, they have taken a decisive and uncompromising stance against online discrimination, releasing a scathing statement condemning hostility.
Their statement reaffirmed the strict, zero-tolerance policy against discrimination and confirmed that steps are being taken to deter defaulters.
Who is Robinio Vaz?
French youth international Robinio Vaz was one of Hull City's deadline day additions to their squad for the season.
The 19-year-old joined the club on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Serie A giants AS Roma.
He joined Roma from Olympique Marseille in January, but struggled to produce for both sides due to limited opportunities.
Vaz was one of the late forward acquisitions for the Tigers, alongside Ilyas Ansah. The youngster is known for his pace and physicality, and has joined a Hull City side that looks to play direct football.
What Did Hull City Say?
In response to racist abuse aimed at Robinio Vaz since his deadline-day signing for the East Yorkshire club, the club released a statement to address the situation.
The statement condemned the abuse aimed at the teenager, pledging to support him through this phase of his life.
"Hull City condemns the abhorrent racist abuse directed towards our new signing, Robinio Vaz, on social media.
No individual should ever experience discriminatory abuse, and the club will provide Robinio with our full support."
They also pointed out that they have been in contact with the Premier League, Kick It Out, and social media platforms used to convey the abuse, as well as law enforcement for a holistic approach towards the problem.
"Hull City has a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of discrimination and in the last 24 hours, we have been in communication with the Premier League, anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out and the relevant social media companies.
We are also working with Humberside Police and other relevant authorities to identify the accounts responsible for this disgusting abuse, so that appropriate action can be taken against those individuals."
The club also expressed their delight at having Vaz on their books and pledged their continued support for the youngster.
"We are delighted that Robinio has joined our Hull City family, and we know our supporters share our excitement to watch him in action at the MKM Stadium.
We stand with Robinio and encourage all supporters to continue to report any form of discrimination."
Hull City intend to ensure perpetrator identification so as to ensure that they face the law for their actions.
If caught, the perpetrator(s) will receive permanent bans from all footballing venues in addition to whatever law enforcement determines.
Protecting Players and Fostering an Inclusive MKM Stadium
In modern-day football, the average fan thinks that it is fine to abuse players in whatever way they can.
Hull City's swift action and statement shows a club that cares about the mental and emotional well-being of its players, which also extends to include the staff and supporters, as well.
As Robinio Vaz prepares to begin his time in England, the club's message to its fans is to support the youngster.
He will be pleased to know of his club's stance and attitude towards the subject, judging by the reaction to the abuse he faced.
The MKM Stadium, home of the Tigers, will host fans from all walks of life on 18 more occasions this season, and the club has already sent a message to the fans.
They were urged to report any form of discrimination, which will result in greater diversity across all of their games.
