A COLCHESTER United hero has spoken out after receiving horrific racist abuse from an anonymous account on social media.
Fan favourite Frank Nouble, who has just signed a two-year deal with the club, was targeted during one of his regular Q&A sessions with fans via social media site Instagram.
The teenager involved was asked his age, to which he replied 13, before shouting racial obscenities at Nouble, who has made almost 100 appearances for the U’s.
Nouble said: “I normally go on Instagram and do a few giveaways every couple of weeks to try and give something back to the fans.
“If they answer five questions then they win something. It is just a bit of fun.
“A couple of nights ago I was doing one and this kid came on. I started asking him the questions and then he said what he said.
“It was a bit of a shock and I didn’t know what to say.”
Nouble, who is equally adept as a striker or on the wing, said it was not the first time he had been racially abused on social media.
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He said: “It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing and it has become a more regular occurrence.
“These things have happened to me before but I have not recorded it.
“I thought this time I would to try and show the world these kind of things are still going on.”
Nouble posted the video on his Twitter account, where it has had more than 37,000 views.
He has received hundreds of messages of support from fans as well as fellow players.
Nouble is calling on social media companies to do more to combat abuse, particularly from anonymous accounts such as the one which targeted him.
He said: “I didn’t post it for any sort of reaction. I put it out there to show what happens.
“Hopefully accounts like this can have a bit more accountability.
“Hopefully people will see it and realise this is not good enough.
“People are Retweeting it and showing unity which is good to see.
"This is why footballers took part in the social media blackouts.
“It has made me start to think I do not want to engage with people as much.
"It is hard to keep putting yourself out there again knowing you could be targeted.”
The incident has been reported to the Met Police, who are investigating.
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