Abdoulaye Doucoure has been speaking about the uncertainty over his Everton future and the online racist abuse he received after celebrating the Blues’ Merseyside Derby equaliser in front of Liverpool fans
Abdoulaye Doucoure has spoken candidly on his Everton future and his determination to enjoy his remaining time at the Blues if this proves to be his last season at the club. The 32-year-old is one of 13 Everton players whose current contracts expire this summer and Goodison Park chiefs have allowed a clause to lapse that would have triggered a one-year extension.
The midfielder could still remain part of David Moyes’ plans on renegotiated terms but right now, Doucoure – whose winning goal against Bournemouth on the final day of the 2022/23 season ensured the Blues avoided a first relegation in 72 years – can listen to offers elsewhere. The Times reports him as saying: “It’s a difficult situation, to be honest. I never lie when I talk about my future. Obviously I’ve had a great time here. I don’t know what’s going to come next. I’m a free agent now so I have some possibilities.
“I will always cherish my time here and I will be very happy for what I did for Everton. Even if I leave, inside my heart I will always be a Blue.
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“For the moment nothing has been discussed so let’s see what’s going to happen in the next couple of months. But it may be my last season here, so I want to enjoy it as much as I can and do the best I can.”
Doucoure was speaking to an audience of around 100 schoolchildren at Goodison Park having insisted upon personally attending a Show Racism The Red Card event, having found himself subjected to vile abuse in the aftermath of the ground’s final Merseyside Derby last month. The Q&A starts in a light-hearted manner as the floor is thrown open and laughter breaks out when a youngster asks: “Why did you do that to the Liverpool fans?” in response to the Mali international being shown a post-match second yellow card for celebrating James Tarkowski’s late equaliser in front of travelling supporters, an act that sparked a melee resulting in Reds substitute Curtis Jones also being dismissed.
However, Doucoure did not mind admitting to the children that he allowed his emotions to get the better of him. In the aftermath of the 2-2 draw between Everton and Liverpool, the former Watford player’s social media feed was filled by monkey images and racist slurs and the Times reports that an investigation by the Premier League’s legal team is continuing; they are pursuing convictions in the knowledge that 80% of those who have abused top-flight players this season are based overseas.
Doucoure said: “It was a lot. I was receiving like a thousand every day.
“I have received online comments in the past. But after this game, it was a lot. It was quite shocking for me. “Online abuse is too easy. I just find it’s too easy for people to just write anything they want.
“They send monkey images. They just want to like to touch you, to hurt you.
“They use discrimination to hurt you. And it’s so hard to quote all of them because I was asked to send some reports, but I said, ‘I received too many messages.’
“It’s impossible to catch everyone but, obviously, the big platforms like Instagram, Facebook and X need to do something bigger to stop those comments.
“The abuse never stops these days. As players, together, sometimes we spoke and we said we need to do more, but sometimes some players want to give up as well because they think, ‘We do everything, but nothing happens.’
“For me, education is the key and that is why I wanted to be here. If I have the power to educate, then I have to use it. “Those kids are going to be adults soon. They’re already online today.
“So it was important for me to show them the message that no one should be allowed to abuse you or discriminate against you.”
He added: “That celebration I had in front of the Liverpool fans and the abuse I received online should not be linked. It’s totally different because online they attack my colour, attack my religion, attack my family.
“I can understand some frustration. They can criticise me.
“They can say, you know, it’s not appropriate and everything. I accept that. It’s no problem.
“But when you go to discrimination, this is the red line. If I had one message to the children, it would be don’t accept any abuse, any discrimination. I hope they will be confident and brave enough to report anything.”
