The police have begun an investigation into malicious social media messages targeting Sophia, the wife of Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, following his recent struggles on the pitch.
Havertz faced backlash after missing a crucial penalty during Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round loss to Manchester United. The game ended in a shootout defeat, marking the Gunners’ second consecutive loss.
Sophia, the German international’s wife, highlighted the abuse by sharing two hateful messages she received on Instagram.
A police spokesperson confirmed the development, stating:
“Officers received a report of malicious communications involving a Hertfordshire resident on Sunday, January 12. Investigations are ongoing.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his dismay over the situation during a press conference ahead of their Premier League clash with Tottenham.
“This kind of online abuse has terrible consequences,” Arteta said. “It’s something that we must eliminate from the game entirely. There are boundaries that should never be crossed.”
Despite a challenging season, Havertz has managed to score 12 goals in 27 appearances for Arsenal. However, his recent performances, including a poor display in a League Cup semi-final loss to Newcastle, have reignited criticism of his form.
Havertz, who famously scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final for Chelsea, has had an inconsistent spell at Arsenal since joining the team in 2023.
Arteta stood firm in his defense of the player and emphasized that abuse of any kind is unacceptable.
“We can acknowledge criticism as part of our job, but there are limits. This cannot continue,” he added.
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