Police investigate racist abuse of Jamal Lowe sent to his wife on Instagram

Police are investigating racist abuse aimed at Sheffield Wednesday forward Jamal Lowe after comments targeting him were posted on his wife’s Instagram photographs. BBC Sport reported that the messages appeared repeatedly following Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Notts County on Tuesday, a match in which the 32-year-old Jamaica international was sent off.

The UK Policing Football Unit confirmed the investigation to BBC Sport. In its response, the unit condemned racial abuse both online and in person and said its officers would work to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. Its statement also warned people posting abuse that being behind a keyboard would not protect them from accountability.

Lowe made the incident public through his own Instagram account. He challenged the idea that a poor performance could justify racist abuse from someone claiming to support his team, and urged parents to educate their children and confront racist behaviour within their families. He also expressed frustration at the frequency with which players face such treatment after disappointing results.

Sheffield Wednesday issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the abuse and saying racism had no place in football or wider society. The League One club said this was not the first incident involving its players, staff and their families this season. It described the repeated targeting of individuals and their loved ones as unacceptable.

The club also pointed to its support for the EFL’s Together Against Racism campaign only the previous weekend. Wednesday said incidents such as this demonstrated the importance of collective action and meaningful consequences. Its response addressed not only the abuse of Lowe but also the wider pattern of targeting people connected to the club.

BBC Sport reported that another Wednesday player, whose identity was not disclosed, received racist messages after a 1-1 draw with Leicester in April. The report also recalled a separate incident in 2024, when the club was fined £12,500 and a Wednesday supporter received a five-year ban after Coventry’s Kasey Palmer was subjected to a racist gesture during a Championship match.