Professional athletes often find themselves under intense scrutiny, facing both the exhilaration of victory and the disappointment of defeat. While constructive criticism is a natural part of the sports world, there are instances where negative remarks turn into a form of negative sledding, crossing the line into personal attacks.
This scenario was notably evident in the aftermath of the Thursday night match, where Alexander Mattison, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings, found himself at the center of this phenomenon.
The match’s outcome weighed heavily on the Vikings, who narrowly missed securing a crucial victory. However, this close loss came at a price.
After Thursday’s match, Alexander Mattison, who had played a vital role during the game, had a bit of a fumble which made the Minnesota Vikings lose the match, and post the game, the player faced the brunt of fans’ frustrations. Instead of constructive criticism, he was subjected to a barrage of abusive messages. These messages went beyond the boundaries of respectful discourse, using derogatory language and racial slurs. Even more alarmingly, some individuals directed horrifying and deeply distressing comments toward him, suggesting self-harm.
What Happened to Alexander Mattison?
Minnesota Vikings’ running back, Alexander Mattison, found himself subjected to a barrage of racist attacks on social media following the Vikings’ 34-28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. For the unversed, Mattison ran for 25 yards and then fumbled twice in a close game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Taking to Instagram, Mattison revealed that he received over 60 “disgustingly disrespectful messages” in the aftermath of the game. Screenshots of some of these racially offensive direct messages were shared on his story.
Mattison responded, expressing his indifference to criticism regarding fantasy football performance but vehemently condemning the racist and hurtful nature of the messages. He implored those responsible to reflect on the impact of their words, emphasizing that beyond his role as a professional athlete, he is a human, a father, and a son, underscoring the severity of the situation.
In a display of solidarity, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) also expressed its support for Alexander Mattison in a post on Friday morning. The NFLPA extended its services to fellow players who might seek assistance in managing their social media presence to prevent similar instances of harassment.
Additionally, the Minnesota Vikings issued a statement condemning the “hatred and racist slurs” directed at Mattison, expressing their profound dismay at the offensive messages he received.
Why Was Alexander Abused by Fans?
Alexander Mattison became the target of abusive online messages from fans in the aftermath of the Vikings’ closely contested game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite Mattison’s admirable performance as a 25-year-old running back entrusted with filling the shoes of the departed free agent, Dalvin Cook, the game’s outcome left some fans disgruntled. Mattison, acknowledging the frustrations often associated with fantasy football, maintained that he was open to hearing complaints about his performance in that context.
However, he drew a firm line at the “disgustingly disrespectful” messages that he received. These messages crossed the boundaries of decency as they contained not only racial slurs, including the N-word but also explicit and offensive language, with some individuals even suggesting that he should commit suicide.
The abusive messages went further by insulting Mattison’s intelligence, calling him “stupid,” and addressing him using derogatory language. This distressing racist abuse by fans unfolded in the wake of a closely contested game that had raised emotions, particularly following the Vikings’ near-miss on a game-deciding touchdown by Justin Jefferson.
The messages that the player received were like:
You stupid ******* [racist slur], learn how to hold onto the ball. You get paid millions and can’t do ****. This team is 2-0 with Dalvin Cook. Move your [racist slur] back to Boise and start selling cars or some s*** you slow, useless (racist slur).
“If you decide that’s no for you, kill yourself. God knows yo [racist slur] dumber than **** so you can’t do anything with common knowledge.”
What Was the Outcome of the Thursday Match?
The Minnesota Vikings faced their second consecutive one-score loss, dropping their record to 0-2 this season. This comes as a stark contrast to their impressive 11-0 record in one-score games during the previous season, which culminated in a 13-4 overall record.
In a pivotal moment during the recent game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the All-Pro receiver made a significant 30-yard reception that brought the Vikings to the Philadelphia 1-yard line.
However, in a bold attempt to reach the end zone, Alexander Mattison lost control of the ball while being tackled at the pylon. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the ball rolled into the end zone and out of bounds, resulting in an unexpected turn of events.
What seemed like a certain score or, at the very least, a first-and-goal opportunity turned into a touchback, adding to the Vikings’ string of close and challenging losses this season.
Let us know your thoughts on players receiving criticism to an extent that potentially damages their mental health.
Also, don’t you think fans should sometimes take the game in a sporting way without getting too personal with its outcomes? Write to us below!
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