Why does racism against black players persist in Spanish football?
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for worldwide stadium bans for fans and automatic forfeits for teams whose supporters hurl what he described as βabhorrentβ abuse
Earlier this month, the goalkeeper of Spanish third-tier team, Rayo Majadahonda, went into the stands to confront a fan who allegedly racially abused him. Cheikh Sarr, a black man originally from Senegal, said he heard an elderly man join others as they made monkey gestures. But what took many people by surprise was the Spanish football federationβs decision to slap the player with a two-match ban for the confrontation.
Itβs not the first time European football has been rocked by a racism scandal. Last year, seven people were arrested for a similar incident against Real Madrid and Brazilian star Vinicius Junior. Samuel Etoβo, who is now the Cameroonian football federationβs president said, he too faced discrimination when he was still playing for Barcelona in Spain.
Nigeriaβs Samuel Chukwueze, Ghanaβs IΓ±aki Williams and Mouctar Diakhaby of Guinea, are among European-based African players whoβve also faced racism. So, what will it take to end racism in European football?
Presenter: Alan Kasujja
Guests: Evelyn Watta, vice president of the International Sports Press Association and veteran British-Nigerian broadcaster Osasu Obayiuwana
Podcast
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