Ex-Sunderland player 'absolutely fuming' as his sons are racially abused on social media

The children of former Sunderland footballer Djibril Cisse have been the victims of racist attacks, his ex-wife has said.
Former Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse, pictured playing for Liverpool in a recent Legends match, is said to be 'absolutely fuming' at the racist abuse his sons have suffered. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.Former Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse, pictured playing for Liverpool in a recent Legends match, is said to be 'absolutely fuming' at the racist abuse his sons have suffered. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Former Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse, pictured playing for Liverpool in a recent Legends match, is said to be 'absolutely fuming' at the racist abuse his sons have suffered. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Jude Cisse said sons Cassius, 13, and Prince, 11 - both aspiring footballers themselves - were targeted in a string of social media messages.

The abuse was said to include a reference to a match where rival fans hurled bananas at their father, while another message included a racial slur alongside laughing emojis.

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Ex-Liverpool striker Cisse had a season-long loan at Sunderland from French club Marseille in 2008-09, when he scored 10 goals in 35 games.

Now 37, he plays for Italian side A.C. Vicenza 1902, while his ex-wife, from whom he was divorced in 2014, still lives in Cheshire.

She told the Sunday Mirror: "The abuse my boys have suffered is beyond belief. What kind of sick individual would target a child like that?

"It has left them talking about the colour of their skin and feeling different."

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Describing the messages as "horrendous", she told how she was "utterly horrified" by the online attacks.

But she said she wanted to speak out to send a "clear message that racism and online abuse is not, and will never be, acceptable".

One message to Cassius – who plays for Crewe Alexandra Academy – makes a racial slur alongside three laughing-crying emojis.

Prince – a youth team player at Liverpool – also received a string of shocking messages via Instagram in recent days.

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They were sent as Tottenham star Danny Rose went public over his despair at football's inability to tackle racism effectively.

Ms Cisse, 43, says her ex-husband is “absolutely fuming” at the attacks on his boys and is “fully supportive of the ongoing investigation”.

Cheshire Police are said to be investigating whether a racially aggravated public order offence has been committed.