Wilfried Zaha: Sol Campbell hails police response to racist abuse targeted at Crystal Palace player

Police arrested a 12-year-old boy in relation to racist abuse sent to Crystal Palace forward

Zaha posted screenshots on Twitter from messages sent to his Instagram (Action Images via Reuters)

Former England defender Sol Campbell saluted the mechanisms in place for people to be tracked down when they post online abuse after police arrested a 12-year-old boy in relation to racist abuse sent to Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha on social media on Sunday.

Zaha, 27, posted screenshots on Twitter from messages sent to his Instagram account ahead of Palace’s Premier League fixture at Aston Villa.

Campbell told Sky Sports: “Sometimes these incidences happen and it’s tough because do you want to speak out? Do you want to rock the boat? These things are hurting people. Zaha doesn’t want to wake up to these images on his Instagram but it’s good that authorities are there and mechanisms in place that you can track people down.

“If you give all the information away, to the right authorities they can track you down very easily. You know, a 12-year-old boy, it’s quite shocking really.”

PA