Calvin Bassey faces online abuse from furious Manchester United fans

Fulham’s FA Cup win over Manchester United at Old Trafford should have been a time for celebration for Calvin Bassey.

Instead, the Nigerian defender was the victim of shameful online racist abuse from angry United fans after his role in Fulham’s surprise victory.

Bassey, 24, played a key part in Fulham’s shock elimination of the current FA Cup champions. He scored the opening goal in the 1-1 draw, and Fulham then won 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

Bassey’s header from an Andreas Pereira corner just before halftime gave Fulham the lead and silenced the United crowd.

Although Bruno Fernandes equalized for United in the second half, Bassey and Fulham’s defence stood strong, forcing extra time and then penalties.

Fulham’s goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, saved crucial penalties to secure the win and send United out of the competition.

But instead of celebrating his performance, Bassey was targeted by online abuse. Manchester United fans flooded his social media accounts with hateful messages, blaming him for their team’s defeat.

Some of the messages were racist, while others accused him of ruining the FA Cup by helping to knock out United.

Fulham and several football organisations are expected to speak out against the abuse.

Bassey’s experience is not the first time a player has been harassed after a big match, highlighting the dark side of football fandom where frustration can lead to unacceptable treatment of players.

Despite this, Bassey is staying focused on helping Fulham continue their strong FA Cup run, showing resilience both on and off the pitch.

What’s Next for Fulham?

With Fulham now set to face Crystal Palace in the quarterfinals, all eyes will be on Bassey to see if he can rise above the competition and the hateful comments online.