Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt receives racist abuse online

Crystal Palace defender Patrick van Aanholt shared via Twitter that he received racist abuse on Instagram following Wednesday's scoreless Premier League draw at home to Manchester United.

As noted by Reuters (h/t ESPN), Van Aanholt was specifically targeted after he failed to convert a close-range effort near the completion of the contest. He then tweeted "Why we kneel..." along with a picture of the racist language sent to him. 

According to Sky Sports, Instagram has taken steps to ensure the individual who abused Van Aanholt won't be able to reactivate the account. 

The Premier League and media outlets such as Sky Sports have teamed with the "Kick It Out" movement to attempt to eliminate such disgusting acts from all tiers of English football and punish guilty parties. A handful of Premier League players have reported receiving online racist abuse during the 2020-21 season. 

Among them is Wilfried Zaha, Van Aanholt's teammate at Palace, who suggested last month that players, coaches and referees kneeling before kickoffs to honor the "Black Lives Matter" movement was little more than an empty gesture.