Skip to main content

Men’s Football Racist abuse of Juventus's Moise Kean is further proof that action must be taken now, says Kick It Out

Kick It Out once again called for “extended stadium bans or points deductions” after another black football player was racially abused on Tuesday night.

On the same day Uefa president Aleksander Cerefin addressed the issue of racism at the Equal Game conference held at Wembley Stadium, Juventus striker Moise Kean was subjected to monkey chants from a section of Cagliari fans throughout the duration of the game.

Kean netted Juve’s second goal and celebrated in front of the supporters with his arms out, only for the racist abuse to intensify.

After the game, instead of standing in solidarity with their teammate, Juventus player Leonardo Bonucci and manager Massimiliano Allegri threw him under the bus and placed the blame on his doorstep, saying he shouldn’t have celebrated the way he did.

Bonucci went one step further and said Kean provoked the fans and that the “blame is 50-50.”

In a statement to the Star, Kick It Out pointed out that black players playing against Cagliari have been abused three years in a row and the Italian FA have stood back and allowed it to continue.

The anti-racism campaign group added that action must be taken against racist abuse in football and that FAs and referees are still not protecting players.

The statement read: “Moise Kean was racially abused by Cagliari supporters last night — just hours after Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin urged referees to be “brave” and enforce the three-step protocol in place to protect players.

“Despite the referee following the first step and asking for one tannoy announcement calling for the racist chanting to stop, the abuse continued — but the game wasn’t suspended. A clear failure of process.

“This is the third year in a row that black players have been racially abused at Cagliari — Blaise Matuidi and Sulley Muntari have faced the same treatment, and yet the Italian FA allow it to continue.

“To compound the abuse further, Kean — the victim — is criticised for his reaction by the Cagliari president, as well as his own captain Leonardo Bonucci and manager, Massimiliano Allegri. Both should take a lesson from Matuidi, who actually showed his support for a young man forced to endure monkey chanting from supporters.

“Ultimately  [if] Uefa, national football associations and referees cannot do the job of protecting players from racial abuse, there can be no complaints if they begin to take the situation into their own hands.

“Swift, decisive action against mass racist chanting must be taken now, and that means extended stadium bans or points deductions.”

Kean did receive messages of solidarity from players, starting with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling.

Sterling said “all you can do is laugh” at Bonucci’s response in an Instagram post yesterday morning.

“The blame is 50-50 @bonuccileo19,” Manchester City forward Sterling posted on his story alongside a number of laughing and applause emojis.

“All you can do now is laugh.”

And at the second day of the Equal Game conference, former professionals Yaya Toure and Jason Roberts slammed Bonucci and Allegri for their failure to support Kean.

Roberts said: “I think it’s deeply troubling when you see a young player having to endure what was thrown at him.

“What was stark was the reaction of some opposition players and his teammates, as if he had done something wrong. Who else in the workplace would have to endure that?

“We are seeing the rise of it in society and in football. It’s about ensuring players have confidence in governance and the decision-makers that the sanction fits the crime.

“I don’t think we are doing enough and the players are having to take the lead. For that to be the case in 2019 shows we have a long way to go.”

Toure added: “To be honest that was so hard to take.

“I was shocked when I saw that happen and then the manager saying Kean shouldn’t have done that. I want to see what the Italian FA is going to do about it. I want to see a response.”

Cristina Blasetti from the Italian Football Federation, who was in the audience at Wembley, apologised for the Kean incident.

She said: “We are very sorry for what happened last night. We are doing our best to tackle this issue.”

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 9,944
We need:£ 8,056
13 Days remaining
Donate today