Khadija Shaw has returned to training with Manchester City after being unavailable to play against Arsenal on Thursday night having been subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse following the previous match between the two teams.

City released a statement on Tuesday to say they were “appalled” at the “disgusting treatment” the Jamaica international, 28, was subjected to following Sunday’s Women’s Super League (WSL) fixture at Joie Stadium.

The two clubs met again on Thursday night in the Subway Cup semi-final — this time at Meadow Park — with Shaw not making the trip. City went on to win 2-1 to set up a final against Chelsea in March.

The club said the content in question has been shared with authorities with Shaw not wanting to go public and give “oxygen” to the people allegedly behind it.

Asked on Thursday evening about Shaw’s well-being City manager Gareth Taylor told Sky Sports: “It’s hard to say, we left yesterday and weren’t able to bring her with us on the journey.

“It’s really difficult for me to analyse. Who knows what goes on in that world? When you’re affected by things like that it’s really, really ­difficult.

“I’ve not had time to have a good conversation with her about it but she knows and needs to know that the whole club are behind her in this.”

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Taylor said Shaw had returned to training ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Leicester City.

“The situation is the situation, the decision was the decision,” Taylor said. “Bunny’s back with us today, she’s OK, she trained with the team, which is good. So that’s it. I don’t think we want to give any more airtime to this really bad issue that she’s had to suffer with.”

“Of course not (players shouldn’t have to deal with abuse). There’s no place for it at all in any walk of life, there’s really not. Anyone saying the opposite of that, there’s no palace for it at all in anything we do.”

Millie Bright, the England international defender, released her own statement on social media earlier this week after receiving abuse at Chelsea’s match with Aston Villa at the weekend.

Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), the body which took over responsibility for the WSL and Championship from the Football Association in August of last year, offered their support to both players and said such abuse has “no place … within women’s football or wider society”.

“We are shocked and saddened to hear about the incidents that occurred over the weekend relating to Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Millie Bright,” a WPLL statement read.

“Players, coaches and officials should be able to do their job without being subjected to abuse, either in person or online, and there is no place for it within women’s football or wider society.

“We are speaking to both clubs and offering any support they might need.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Arsenal, Manchester City, UK Women's Football

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