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Phil Neville calls for better protection from Instagram after second Lioness receives rape and death threats

Phil Neville says Instagram needs to 'do a better job' of protecting players - Action Plus
Phil Neville says Instagram needs to 'do a better job' of protecting players - Action Plus

England Women head coach Phil Neville has again called on Instagram to “do a better job” at protecting his players following a second rape and death threat to one of his Lionesses.

A user messaged a player, whose identity is unknown, shortly before 1am this morning with the words: “I’m going to rape and kill you. Can I get a headline on BBC Sport?”

Neville shared a screengrab of the post to his 448,000 Instagram followers with the caption: “Another disgraceful awful despicable message sent to one of my @lionesses - @instagram can you do a better job at protecting my players who use your social media platform!!” [sic]

The threat comes just over 24 hours after Neville criticised the social networking site for allowing a rape and death threat to reach the private messages of Chelsea captain Karen Carney, 32, during her side’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina in the first leg of the last 16 of the Women’s Champions League, in which she scored the decisive penalty.

User dzo09 contacted Carney at 9.22pm, saying: “How many chances you need to score in second half stupid b------”, “I wish you cancer and leukemia” and “I hope someone will rape you to death”. The account was deleted after the comments were reported to Instagram, possibly by Chelsea.  

The FA said in a statement they were “appalled and dismayed by the abuse directed towards Karen Carney” and “call on the police and social media organisations to do everything they can to help tackle this growing problem”.

England and Lyon midfielder Izzy Christiansen also shared Carney’s story on Twitter, adding: “One of the many problems that the world of social media can cause in the world of sport. It should not even be possible for such hideous and inaccurate comments to reach the player.”

The FA and Instagram have been contacted for comment.