Millwall speak out after being ‘left disgusted’ by online racist abuse directed at Zak Sturge after he was sent off against Blackburn.
Sturge was show a red card in the 59th minute after a foul on Yuki Ohashi with his side leading 1-0, before Blackburn’s Mathias Jorgensen netted twice in five minutes to turn the scoreline around late on.
Millwall said in a statement on Monday that the abuse had come from two overseas Instagram accounts and neither appeared to have any affiliation to either club.
💙 We are a family. Everybody is with you, Zak. pic.twitter.com/IBDOPK2WeT
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) March 16, 2026
CLUB STATEMENT:
Millwall Football Club is disgusted by online racist abuse directed at Zak Sturge on social media following Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers.
Emojis with racist intent and slurs about his skin colour were sent to Zak from two separate overseas Instagram accounts – one from Belgium and another from Mexico. Neither account appears to have any fan affiliation with Millwall or Blackburn Rovers. Both accounts have been reported to Instagram’s parent company, Meta, and the EFL and the club is waiting for an update on this.
The club is doing everything it can to support Zak and his family and wholeheartedly condemns this behaviour in the strongest possible terms. It is disgraceful that in 2026 players continue to be subjected to such abuse. It has no place in the sport we love or in society.
This is the second time this season a Millwall player has received online racial abuse. These spineless abusers no longer fear hiding behind anonymous accounts while directing abuse in the public domain – the club urges social media companies to do far more to stop these cowards from continuing to spread such hateful content online.
Millwall will continue to work with the relevant authorities and platforms where necessary and remains fully committed to promoting equality, inclusion and respect within the game.
Zak and his family have the full support of every single member of staff, teammate and supporter at Millwall Football Club.
Millwall boss Alex Neil didn’t agree with the decision to send off Zak Sturge, saying, per Lancashire Telegraph: “I have seen the sending off back, I don’t think it’s a sending off,” he told the club channels. “It happens really early in the pitch, Zak is getting back across him.
“He is going wide of goal on his next touch. Coops (Jake Cooper) is recovering and I think it’s extremely harsh as a red card.
“Ultimately, that sort of sways the game because up until that point, certainly second half, we were the better side. But then we go on and have two more opportunities when we have 10 men.
“There are some games where you get maybe one or two incidents that sort of decide the game. It felt today as if there were maybe six or seven incidents that decided the game so that is unusual,” he added.
“First half, I thought we actually started quite brightly and then they started to find a little bit of rhythm.
“Their shape caused us a bit of problems, we didn’t really deal with it well enough. Albeit, I didn’t really feel under any pressure.
“I can’t remember a save for Patto (Anthony Patterson) to make in the first half, but we didn’t play as well as we wanted. We didn’t have as much territory and look as threatening as we wanted.
“At half time we made a couple of changes, changed the shape, and I thought we looked much brighter second half. We get the goal, which I thought we deserved at that point.
“More importantly, we have three opportunities before they score to make it 2-0. This is the difference at the level, if you take one of those three chances.”
The gaffer’s take on this afternoon. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/RKUW1QZ4jn
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) March 14, 2026
Social media users reacted after Millwall speak out on being ‘left disgusted’ by online racist abuse directed at Zak Sturge…
@HarrySm93956985: We are all with you Zak 💙
@BL10CBL: Now appeal that shocking decision and lets get him back out there!!!
@bdavey1990: Brilliant player, see how upset he was on Saturday when he got sent off looked gutted
@davidharrywebb: We’re with you Zak. You’ve all the support you need within the club 🦁💙
@LOYALWALL1: Anonymous faceless lowlife cowards, we’re all with you Zak, keep your head up young man 👍🦁 #MillwallFamily
@tonimilw: We’re all Millwall family and we’re all with you Zak. Stay strong and hopefully the decision will be won on appeal 💙💙
@isthepubopenyet: Ignore the hate Zak you are loved by all of us 🦁💙
@matmillwall: Sorry you have to put up with this sort of shit Zak, there will always be pricks in this world, just remember that the vast majority are right behind you!
@LeeKingston10: You’re one of us Zak, stay strong we are all behind you fella 🫡
@StanleyBirkett: The Millwall family are all with you Zak, no place for this cowardly abuse at or in our club! Hope we appeal your ref too, awful decision by ref
@The1885Show: All with Zak 🦁💙 Bit of a side note – Thought the standing ovation after his red on Saturday showed that excellently #Millwall
@RobertSmith_976: Fucking disgrace that this is still happening in 2026, we’re all with you Zak 💙
@PaulMFC43714: We stand with you Zak,you always give 💯 when you pull on the shirt, and we bloody love you mate COYL 🦁
@AchtungMillwall: Zak is one of our own – sending my best wishes to him … as the club say rightly these accounts are spineless 👊🏻
