Plymouth Argyle Condemns Racial Abuse Targeting Player Aribim Pepple
Plymouth Argyle has expressed its outrage over the "vile" racial abuse directed at forward Aribim Pepple following their Vertu Trophy match against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday.
The League One club reported that Pepple, a summer signing, shared with them the abusive messages he received on his social media accounts.
The Pilgrims have since forwarded screenshots of the offending accounts and messages to both the police and Meta, the parent company of platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Pepple made his debut as a substitute in the 55th minute during Argyle's 2-0 group-stage victory, where he had a penalty saved in the 81st minute.
In a statement, Plymouth emphasized, "We will do everything possible to support Bim and hold those responsible accountable."
"Why was he targeted? Simply because he missed a penalty in a football match. We are all human," the club stated. "Bim does not deserve to receive messages of this nature, nor do any of our players or staff. The actions of a few small-minded individuals will never diminish that, and we know the Green Army [Argyle's fanbase] will support Bim in every way possible."
Pepple, who joined Argyle from Luton Town for an undisclosed fee in July, shared the club's statement along with some of the abusive messages he received on his Instagram account. The messages appeared to originate from users with no affiliation to either club involved in the match.
Message 'Clearly Isn't Getting Through'
Plymouth vowed to continue its commitment to anti-racism initiatives in football, including participating in the English Football League's "Together Against Racism" campaign, while acknowledging that the message "clearly isn't getting through."
"We will not stop until it does. Before you send that message, just think. Consider the person who will read it," the statement added. "Bim, we are all with you. You are part of the Argyle family and have the full support of everyone at the club."
In recent years, several footballers have spoken out about the racial abuse they have faced, particularly online. England defender Jess Carter disclosed that she was targeted during Euro 2025 in July.
Consequently, the Lionesses ceased their pre-match anti-racism gesture of taking a knee, arguing that it was evident that both they and football needed to find alternative methods to combat racism.
After Tottenham Hotspur expressed their disgust over the racial abuse aimed at forward Mathys Tel following their UEFA Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain in August, the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out stated that accountability from both perpetrators and social media companies is "not being met."
"For a black player, it would be completely understandable to question, 'Why would I want to take a penalty?'" the organization remarked. "This is the current state of the game, and unfortunately, it is nothing new. Football organizations, authorities, and the regulator, Ofcom, must unite to expedite a plan that better safeguards players. Their welfare should always be the top priority, and we stand with all those who have suffered this ongoing racist abuse."
Last season, the Premier League intervened to remove 1,500 abusive posts from various social media accounts, facilitated by a dedicated support team and collaboration with UK and international law enforcement.