Sheffield Wednesday's Pierce Charles subject to 'cowardly' racist abuse after goalkeeping masterclass
For Pierce Charles, tonight should have been spent completely revelling in turning in one of the best Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeping performances in recent memory.
Charles, who is still just a 20-year-old, put on an absolute masterclass at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon. His 11 saves were the most any Championship goalkeeper has pulled off since he did the same - also against Leicester City - back in August. This outing was different, though.
After his world-class stop from Oliver Skipp, the double-save that kept out Stephy Mavididi and Luke Thomas and the phenomenal effort to stop Jordan Ayew from getting a winner, there was no doubt about who was Man of the Match. There were other big moments, too.
So it’s truly miserable that this evening, amid all the praise and all the positivity, the former Manchester City youngster was subjected to racist comments from a cowardly individual who frankly has no place in modern society.
We don’t know who they are, or who they support, because they’re faceless - as so many of them are. His flurry of racist comments on Charles’ Instagram were met with the sort of reaction that you’d hope for - and expect.
The club said their piece, too.
Pierce Charles racism ‘deplorable on every level’
A statement from them this evening read, “Sheffield Wednesday are aware of disgraceful and completely unacceptable racist messages directed towards one of our players on social media following Monday’s game against Leicester.
“The club condemn in the strongest tone any form of racism or discrimination and will work side by side with the relevant authorities to bring the offenders to justice… It is not the first time we find ourselves in this position. It is deplorable on every level.
“Our zero-tolerance stance remains steadfast and unequivocal. Racism is cowardly. It has no place in society. We stand together and only together can we stamp it out.”
It’s incredibly depressing that in the year 2026 we’re still dealing with this. It’s a minority, that’s what we always caveat this with, but minority or not - it’s still happening.
Pierce won’t let it bother him too much, he won’t let a brilliant Easter for the Charles family be ruined by a dickhead with a keyboard. I’ve had the chance to chat with him many times over the years, and he’s got a far better head on his shoulders than I - and many others - had at his age.
He’ll know that this cretin with their private account and default profile picture will never achieve what he will. By 20 he’s one of the hottest goalkeeping properties in Europe, he’s an international footballer, he’s got the adoration of a fanbase that loves him. Some racist with a keyboard shouldn’t detract from what was a truly brilliant display at S6.
Negativity often sticks more than positivity, that’s an unfortunate fact of life, but Pierce is so much bigger than some troll online with nothing better to do. And I’m certain will see him on some grand stages in the future. He’ll have the sort of future that some idiot with letters and numbers for a username can only dream of.
Well said. Infuriates me that accounts can be held to abuse people and get away with it.
This doesn’t not reflect SWFC so IF they are a fan..ban them for life