CHERRIES midfielder Junior Stanislas has called for individuals to be "held accountable" for online racist abuse, adding: "We need to see it gone."
Stanislas had struck the winner in Cherries’ 1-0 victory at Stoke City on Saturday, before checking his phone when he got back on the team bus to find racist slurs aimed at both him and his family.
The account responsible for the messages has been permanently suspended by Twitter.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 31-year-old explained his emotions at seeing the messages.
"At the start, the high of getting the three points because we were coming off the back of the defeat and we needed it, so as you can imagine everyone was buzzing in the dressing room," said Stanislas.
"I got on the coach, was on the coach for a little while, and then I've seen the message, so it's obviously from a high to a low very quickly.
"Initially, to be honest, I didn't really feel anything, which I guess is sad, because we've seen it all too much now, it's becoming a regular thing.
"Although for me personally it's my first sort of online abuse, I've had it numerous occasions growing up, so I wouldn't say numb to it, it's just becoming all too familiar really. It's only when I sat back, analysed it and spoke with some of the lads - it's obviously disgusting.
"I couldn't believe it really."
Many of Stanislas's team-mates at Cherries showed their support via Instagram, condemning the abuse.
"The family and friends who are the closest to me, they were sort of similar, although they know it's disgusting it was more just positive messages like, 'We've seen it before', 'You know how to handle it', 'Just ignore it', those sort of things," explained the Londoner.
"Team-mates were more disgusted I think. Obviously discussions we have going on around race at the minute, and all the lads (have been) very supportive."
Asked what can be done to try and eradicate racism in football for good, Stanislas said: "I don't think it will ever fully be stamped out, but the more it spreads, the more people post about it, certainly the younger people who are on social media and grow up with that at the back of their minds, then things may slowly start to change.
"But back in the day on football pitches people used to get it face to face, and in general society. Nowadays, I guess that's happening less and less, but people are able to use your Instagram and Twitter to get their message out that way instead.
"I know there has been talk on social media about making everyone be known exactly who they are, so verified accounts and stuff like that, but as a whole to be honest I'm not too sure.
"I know a lot of people will have their own ideas on it. We need to see it gone. I know taking a knee is part of it and spreads awareness, but in terms of social media people just need to be held accountable for the things that they say.
"Players, for example, we say the wrong thing we get fined. General public, although as I say it might not have affected me the same way it affects a 15-year-old kid, so I think people need to be held accountable.
"Our accounts are obviously verified, so if we say the wrong thing we get punished for it. A lot of the stuff we say isn't around race or ethnicity, and we still get the punishment, so when more serious issues come up I think people should be held accountable for sure."
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