Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says the abuse he has been subjected to on social media is “a disgrace”.
Police are investigating claims that Toure was racially abused on Twitter, only hours after he reactivated his account following a five-month absence.
“For me, it’s a disgrace to be honest,” Toure, 31, told BBC Sport. “We need to do something to try to tell people those kinds of behaviour have to stop.
“I want those people to understand what they’re doing is wrong.”
Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said it had “received complaints” about two tweets of a “racist nature” and had informed the police.
It added that Toure had been back on Twitter “for a matter of hours” when he “received abuse of an appalling nature”.
Toure was also the target of racist abuse last season when City beat CSKA Moscow in Russia
The Ivory Coast international was also the target of racist abuse last season when City beat CSKA Moscow in Russia.
“To have such aggression in sport, I can’t understand that,” he told BBC World Service’s John Bennett. “That’s why I’ve been trying to fight it.
“Football doesn’t have a colour. We’re just people from all over the world trying to enjoy the game.
“I never see this in rugby, I never see that in tennis or anything else. I don’t know where it’s coming from.”
Toure fears failure to stamp out online abuse will force other footballers to steer clear of social media.
“For me, it’s OK because I have experience, but for young lads who will maybe go on Twitter and find that… first, they’ll be afraid; second, they’ll close their account,” he said.
Asked if he found the abuse hurtful, Toure said: “To be honest with you, no, because I’ve been attacked like that for many years. I will never stop telling them they are wrong and have to change.”
Yaya Toure was back on Twitter on Tuesday to respond to the events of the previous 24 hours
Meanwhile, City manager Manuel Pellegrini does not think Toure’s performances will be adversely affected by recent events.
“Yaya is an experienced player,” Pellegrini said ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter with CSKA at Etihad Stadium.
“He is always trying to fight against those things but I don’t think he will have any problem about that, to play in the way he knows.”
Pellegrini added: “I read the news about what happened but I think the people in charge will do the right things.”
Source: BBC