Former England and Arsenal forward, Ian Wright, has come forward in support of Reggae Girl and Manchester City star, Khadijah “Bunny” Shaw, after the footballer was subjected to vile racist and misogynistic online abuse during the Women’s Super League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal on February 2.

In a powerful segment on his recent podcast, Women’s Football Show: Crossways, Wright expressed his strong feelings on the matter, calling for authorities to take stronger action. He emphasized that it’s time for those in charge to be more serious in finding and punishing the abusers who have targeted players like Shaw.

Wright’s comments came after Shaw revealed that she had been harassed online following her performance in the game. Despite the disturbing nature of the messages, Shaw made the decision not to share them publicly, opting instead to keep the focus on her game and not give attention to those who seek to degrade her. The content has been shared with the Greater Manchester City Police, who are investigating the matter.

Wright said , “I think it’s high time the authorities take more responsibility,” Wright said during the podcast. “We can’t continue to let this kind of behavior go unchecked. It’s not just about standing up for women, it’s about standing up against racism and abuse in any form.”