Hoffenheim dedicate goal to Ryan Sessegnon after on-loan Tottenham youngster shares racist abuse

Hoffenheim players showed their support for team-mate Ryan Sessegnon during their game against Slovan Liberec on Thursday after the on-loan Tottenham winger revealed that he had been racially abused during the week.

Sessegnon, who is currently on loan at Hoffenheim, shared a screenshot of several messages he received from another Instagram user, who called him a ‘f****** n*****’ and a ‘slave’. 

The 20-year-old wrote ‘honestly unbelievable’ before admitting that this sort of abuse no longer comes as a surprise to him. 

Hoffenheim players showed their support for team-mate Ryan Sessegnon on Thursday

And his team-mates made a gesture of solidarity as Sessegnon watched on from the bench during Hoffenheim’s 5-0 Europa League victory over Liberec on Thursday. 

After Mu’nas Dabbur opened the scoring, the team celebrated by raising their fists together.

‘My guys, solidarity!! Sessegnon tweeted in response to an image of the moment, with the hashtag ‘no to racism’.

Sessegnon joined a number of players in England’s top-flight to be targeted by racists on social media, with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Troy Deeney and Wilfried Zaha all speaking out on the abuse they have received. 

Both Hoffenheim and Spurs offered their support to the 20-year-old.

England starlet Sessegnon shared vile racist abuse he’s received online on Tuesday

The 20-year-old was called a ‘f***ing n*****’ and a ‘slave’ in a direct message on Instagram

‘Everyone at the club is with you @RyanSessegnon. We are proud of the rich ethnic diversity that exists across our communities, fans, staff and players,’ Spurs tweeted.

‘We are driven by inclusion and equality for all and nobody should have to endure such repulsive abuse.’

Bundesliga club Hoffenheim said on Twitter they stood for ‘tolerance, integration and respect’.

‘We reject any form of racism, discrimination and exclusion and say no to racism,’ they said.

Last month, Sportsmail revealed that black players are now disillusioned with English football’s ambition to force change and are preparing to turn their backs on ‘ineffective’ anti-discrimination PR campaign. 

Sportsmail has learned that a host of players have declined to contribute to publicity drives, and others are considering doing the same amid disappointment at their success.