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Racism reared its ugly head again last night during Manchester City’s away tie against CSKA Moscow. It was the latest in a series of racism related incidents that have rocked European football over the last year or so.
Russia and Italy, in particular, have been hotbeds for racist chants and other jibes thrown the way of players. Here’s a look back at some of the biggest racism related incidents in the recent past:
In January 2013, during Milan’s friendly game against Pro Patria, Kevin-Prince Boateng was subjected to abuse.
In a courageous stand, which has since won the midfielder plenty of praise from various corners, Boateng simply kicked the ball in the direction of where the abuse had come from before removing his shirt and walking off the pitch.
His team-mates were quick to follow him out and the game was abandoned.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica described Boateng’s stance as “the only just and reasonable act we have seen in decades of barbarised football”.
The Ghanaian was also invited by the United Nations to address delegates on the importance of confronting racism.
Fiery Italian forward Balotelli experienced one of the most harrowing situations when a section of home fans hurled some vitriolic racist abuse at him on May 13, 2013.
Unlike Boateng, Balotelli did not walk off.
Instead he just turned towards the offending supporters and raised a finger and placed it on his lips. The game was an important one against Roma, as victory in that encounter would have helped them seal third place and ensure qualification for this year’s Champions League.
Walking away would have meant a forfeiting of the game which would have cost Milan precious points.
Paul Pogba, Kwadwo Asamoah an Angelo Ogbonna
Juventus dished out a thrashing to Lazio, 4-0, in the Italian Supercup. Disconsolate and frustrated at the showing of their team, the Lazio fans turned on Pogba, Asamoah and Ogbonna with racist abuse.
It resulted in a section of the Lazio ground, the Curva Nord, being completely closed – the place which the hardcore ‘ultras’ generally inhibit.
Hulk – Axel Witsel
Another instance of the home fans turning on the club’s players was when the group’s fans expressing openly that they did not want any dark-skinned people.
The official statement read: “dark-skinned players are all but forced down Zenit’s throat now, which only brings out a negative reaction’ and said gay players were ‘unworthy of our great city.”
Of course, it didn’t stop there; they went on to add that the club should be all-white and not have any gay players either.
Zenit had spent about €80 million on these two players
Inter Milan
On Septmeber 18, Inter Milan were ordered to close the north end of the San Siro before their next home game against Fiorentina.
The sanction was imposed plus a €15,000 fine was levied.
The alleged racist abuse was aimed at the two black players in the Juventus side, Ghanaian Kwadwo Asamoah and former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
