Kai Havertz’s wife has received a disturbing death threat directed at their unborn child on social media.
Havertz had a tough outing against Manchester United, missing two clear chances and failing to convert in the penalty shootout. Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup after losing 5-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in regular time. The defeat has spilled over into his personal life, with social media becoming a platform for vile threats.
The match at Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal dominate possession but fail to capitalize on opportunities. Havertz, in particular, missed crucial chances. In the penalty shootout, his weak shot was easily saved by Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, who also denied Martin Ødegaard’s penalty during regular time.
Following the match, Havertz faced heavy backlash from Arsenal fans. On Monday, his wife, Sophia Havertz, shared two Instagram posts, one of which revealed a shocking threat. A fan had messaged her, threatening to harm their unborn child.
Reacting to the abuse, Sophia expressed her frustration and disbelief at such behavior, saying,
“If someone thinks writing something like this is acceptable, I find that very surprising… I hope this person feels ashamed of their actions.”
Regarding the threat to her child, she added,
“I honestly don’t know what to say about this. But please, show more respect. We are better than this…”
Instances of online abuse against players and their families have prompted action from football authorities and law enforcement. The Football Association (FA) of England disclosed last year that it provided £25,000 in funding to support the police in tackling abusive incidents during the European Championship.
Similar incidents occurred after England’s loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, where Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho were subjected to racist abuse on social media after missing penalties in the shootout.
