Kai Havertz’s wife, Sophia, has revealed shocking abusive messages she received on social media following Arsenal’s FA Cup penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United.
The disturbing posts included threats directed at the couple’s unborn baby, prompting widespread concern over the level of abuse footballers and their families continue to face online.
Sophia shared screenshots of the messages on Instagram, condemning the individuals responsible for sending them. One message read:
I’m gonna come to your house and slaughter your baby, I’m not joking just wait.
She responded:
For anyone to think it’s okay to write something like this is so shocking to me. I hope you are ashamed of yourself.
Following the incident, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta threw his support behind the German forward after his missed penalty. He said:
To him and to all of them, that I love them, that we all love them individually and as a team they are a joy.
Softfootball understands the club is aware of the online abuse. The incident has renewed calls for stronger action against online abuse targeting footballers and their families, with many urging social media platforms and authorities to identify and punish those responsible.
