Ghana ace Kevin-Prince Boateng has added his voice and thoughts on the racist chanting suffered by Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly during a Serie A fixture between Inter Milan and SS Napoli last Wednesday.
The fixture has been the most talked about in the World not because of the results or the three points, but the racism chants by fans against Koulibaly.
This episode has received unanimous condemnation from companies, stakeholders and colleague footballers across the World.
Boateng believes there are little measures put in place by authorities to ensure the canker is eradicated from sports.
The Sassuolo Calcio midfielder was a victim of racism six years ago when playing for AC Milan against lower tier Pro Patria in a friendly.
Boateng stopped playing and left the field as the chants continued.
” the truth is that nothing has happened since then. Indeed, now everything is more serious . With me to do ‘buu’ racists were in 50, at San Siro three nights ago were in 5 thousand, perhaps 10 thousand. There is something wrong. I felt bad for Koulibaly. I was bad myself, for all those who were there and were forced to listen to certain things.” Boateng emphasized.
Ignorance? Not at all, this is racism, everyone knows it . Who does this is because he thinks we are monkeys in colour . Then, of course, there are those who go after certain behaviors also due to ignorance. But the starting point is racism. Go and ask Koulibaly, I’m sure he’s under a train.”
It was a wrong sentence, if that was not racism, what else? What do we have to do? Do we have to wait for someone to die to move?
Inter-Napoli game had to stop, because the player felt bad, the same Inter players were bad . It was live on TV, it would have been right to say ‘stop, do not play anymore’, it would have been a good sign to say that these things no longer have to happen.”
First of all, I hope the right sanctions are found. But I would like to understand what it means to have black skin and be insulted, many do not really know it. They hate us simply for our colour. If I talk about racism with colleagues? Of course, it’s the biggest theme. It takes courage in these situations. I would have liked, for example, if the other night to stop had been an Inter player . It would have been the strongest signal to send. Ignoring racism is the biggest problem. I pretended nothing for 20 years, now I do not want to do it anymore. In our world it would take more Kaepernick (the NFL player protagonist of the protest against racism and the policies of Donald Trump, ed). But since I came back to Italy nothing happened.”
It is not enough to put the ‘no to racism’ flags, the UEFA spot fines in the Champions League matches are not enough. We need to do more. Maybe with better advertising campaigns. Or insert a topic like this in schools near the math hour. Facts not words. I no longer want to hear about zero tolerance, if similar incidents still occur, it means that little has been done . We must start moving now. Today. Indeed, yesterday … “.