MICAH RICHARDS: If a black player makes a mistake in a game, then goes on social media, it's there waiting. A banana emoji, a monkey picture or words that make you sick to your stomach - it NEEDS to stop!

It has been a depressing and disheartening few days. A spate of stories involving players being racially abused on social media has become big news and prompted people to start talking about the subject.

Many will have been shocked by the vile things that were posted to the accounts of Manchester United trio Marcus Rashford, Antony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe, along with Chelsea’s Reece James and Romaine Sawyers of West Brom.

Personally? I wasn’t shocked nor was I surprised. Sadly, I knew it was coming for them. the same way I knew it was coming for Chelsea's Tammy Abraham when he missed a penalty in the 2019 European Super Cup.