West Ham star speaks out after latest vile racist, misogynistic and Islamophobic abuse online

Football fans have shared messages of support and solidarity after West Ham United Women defender Hawa Cissoko was the subject of racist, misogynistic and Islamophobic abuse received online over the weekend.

The French star took to Instagram to share the messages she had received in her inbox with the caption: "I thought we were done with this story. Obviously not."

The 12 messages from the same account shared by Cissoko contained numerous offensive slurs and prompted widespread condemnation online.

West Ham has reported the abuse to the police and social media platforms that allow such messages to be sent.

The story shared by Cissoko circulated online with football fans slamming the "disgusting" and "sickening".

Some added their voice to widespread demands for social media platforms to police such users and for the FA to take further action.

It's not the first Cissoko has been targeted by vile messages, having received similar abuse after a red card against Aston Villa in the Women's Super League in October.

The star told The Athletic in January: "I prefer to work at McDonald’s and be happy and no one is abusing me than being abused but can’t even defend myself.

“That’s the worst thing. Just because I play football I have to be quiet.”

Following the abuse in October, West Ham released a statement confirming action had been taken to contact the police.

The club said: "While we in no way condone Hawa’s actions on the pitch, for which she has apologised, everyone at the club is disgusted by the hateful content of the online messages subsequently sent to her. They have been passed directly to the police and reported to the relevant social media companies. There is no place for this in society and we condemn it unreservedly.”

LondonWorld has contacted the Metropolitan Police for a statement.