Manchester City's Raheem Sterling racially abused on social media

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling right reacts as Manchester United's Harry Maguire tackles during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. [AP Photo/Michael Regan/ Pool via AP]

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was racially abused on Instagram less than 48 hours after English football's social media boycott campaign came to an end.

The abuse occurred after City's Champions League semi-final victory over Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, said on Wednesday the company had removed the comment and taken action against the account responsible.

"The racist abuse sent to Raheem Sterling is unacceptable and we do not want it on Instagram," the statement said.

"No single thing will fix this challenge overnight but we’re committed to doing what we can to keep our community safe from abuse."

Two City supporters were banned from football matches for five years in January last year for racially abusing Sterling.

The Football Association has called on the British government to introduce legislation to compel social media companies to do more to eradicated online abuse following the sport community's four-day boycott last weekend.