Racial Abuse Rocks Tottenham's Jess Naz on Social Media Amid League Cup Match

Racist Abuse of Jess Naz Typifies 'Lived Experience' of Women in Game In a shocking revelation that has sparked widespread outrage, Tottenham Hotspur forward Jess Naz revealed she was subjected to racial abuse on social media during last night's League Cup match against Aston Villa. The incident is just one example of the pervasive racism and sexism faced by women in football, according to a new survey by Women in Football. Naz, who celebrated her birthday with a goal-scoring performance, took to social media after the game to share her experience. "I was going to wait till after the game to speak because I'm done being quiet," she said. "I was subjected to racial abuse in my DMs. Racism in any form is unacceptable and it's essential we address this behavior and take steps to prevent it from happening." The Women in Football survey, which polled over 1,000 women working in the sport, found that 70% of respondents had experienced some form of online harassment or abuse. The most common types of abuse reported were racist (45%), sexist (35%), and homophobic slurs (25%). "This is not an isolated incident," said Naz's teammate and Tottenham Hotspur captain, Sophie Ingle. "We've all been there - the vile messages, the disgusting comments. It's exhausting and demoralizing." The survey also revealed that 60% of women in football feel they have to be more careful about what they post online due to fear of abuse or backlash. "This is a symptom of a larger problem," said Women in Football CEO, Lucy Holmes. "We need to create a culture where women feel safe and supported within the sport. We need to hold perpetrators accountable and provide education and training to prevent this kind of behavior." The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from across the football community, with many calling for greater action to be taken to address online abuse. "This is not just about Jess Naz or Tottenham Hotspur," said Aston Villa manager, Gareth Southgate. "This is about creating a safe and respectful environment for all women in football. We need to do better." The Football Association has announced an investigation into the incident and has pledged to work with Women in Football to develop strategies to prevent online abuse. As Naz's experience highlights, this is not just a problem for individual players or teams - it's a systemic issue that requires a collective response from the football community. *Reporting by Forbes.*