Only four Premier League clubs accept police invitation to fight online racism

Chief constable Mark Roberts says response is ‘disappointing’

England's Marcus Rashford (2nd right) is consoled by Kalvin Phillips after missing in the penalty shoot-out during the UEFA Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium. Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, who all missed their attempts, were the targets of racist slurs after the defeat. Picture: Nick Potts/PA 

Manchester City, Norwich, Brighton and Chelsea are the only Premier League clubs to have accepted an invitation to work with the police to try to stop online racism, the Guardian understands.

In July, the chief constable Mark Roberts, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s football lead, wrote to all 92 clubs in the league pyramid to invite them to work with the force to address the problem.