Manchester City condemn ‘vile individuals’ over Bunny Shaw abuse

Manchester City have said they are “appalled” that their striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw was subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse after Sunday’s Women’s Super League match against Arsenal.

The have reported the matter to the police. Shaw had made her 100th appearance for Manchester City when she was brought on as a second-half substitute during the 4-3 loss to Arsenal at the Joie Stadium.

Shaw, who turned 28 at the end of January, is the top scorer in the WSL this season with nine league goals to her name and won the Golden Boot last season when she scored 21 times.

A club statement added: “Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game. Bunny has decided not to share the messages publicly so as not to give the oxygen of publicity to the vile individuals who sent them.

“The content has been shared with the authorities. An investigation will follow and the club offers our full support to Bunny following the disgusting treatment she’s received.”

Since arriving from her former club Bordeaux in France, Shaw has scored 86 times in her 100 games in a Manchester City shirt and has won the club’s player of the year award two seasons running.

She was also the Professional Footballers Association’s Women’s Players’ Player of the Year last term as well as the winner of the Football Writers Association’s women’s footballer of the year prize in 2024.

The incident came on the same weekend that Millie Bright said she had received verbal abuse from a Chelsea fan. Responding to both matters, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, which runs the WSL, said in a statement on Wednesday: “We are shocked and saddened to hear about the incidents that occurred over the weekend relating to Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and Millie Bright.

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“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 may need.”

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