Must Be Seen to Be Believed: Kevin-Prince Boateng Kicks Soccer’s Racism in the Teeth

[demmiblue]

Source: The Nation

<snip>

In the middle of a "friendly match" against the club Pro Patria, a mini-mob in the bleachers repeatedly tossed bigoted bombs at the non-white players on AC Milan's roster and Boateng had decided he'd had enough. He picked up the ball right in the middle of play and punted it directly into their section of the stands. Boateng then began to walk off the field in protest. Here is where, in a matter of seconds, the turn of events shifted from shock to wonder. As Boateng stormed to the nearest exit, the Pro Patria fans instead of jeering, cheered him for his actions. Then the referees called off the rest of the game and his opponents on Pro Patria walked off with Boateng, shoulder to shoulder, in solidarity. The announcers could only utter a word in Italian easy to translate: "Incredible."

There were those who commented immediately on Twitter that the moves by Boateng, the referees, and the Pro Patria players were easy because this wasn't an official league game. But Massimino Allegri, the coach of AC Milan, said afterward that his team would walk out again if one of their players were racially abused, regardless of either the competition or the situation. The powerful Allegri also put out a call for other teams to stage walk outs if their players were similarly abused. Particularly significant about this is that the European soccer governing body UEFA has explicitly banned players and coaches taking the fight against racism into their own hands. As UEFA chief Michel Platini has said, players will be fined or suspended for expressing anti-racist resistance on the field. Instead they should just meekly tell the referee and go about the game. Boateng, Allegri, and others are now saying that this isn't close to good enough.

As Pete Koury, host and executive Producer for SiriusXM FC said to me, "FIFA and UEFA have not done nearly enough to address the troubling issue of racism in world football. They've done a series public relations campaigns, t-shirts, and speeches, but their actions have been toothless. The only way to change things is through more dramatic action than we've seen so far. What Kevin-Prince Boateng and the players of both AC Milan & Pro Patria did today was one of the most drastic things we've seen to end racism in soccer and I applaud them for it. Considering this game took place in Italy—a nation of historically cruel and abusive fans—it makes me finally feel like there is finally progress being made."

Read more: http://www.thenation.com/blog/172009/must-be-seen-be-believed-kevin-prince-boateng-kicks-soccers-racism-teeth#

[enlightenment]

1. Fantastic.

This is precisely what they need to do. It has to stop and I'm delighted to see this. I hope all the clubs do the same - let UEFA stew in its own juices - let them try to fine every single player, every club, every manager.

The abuse has to stop and if that means stopping the matches, then so be it.

[demmiblue]

3. Agreed.

The fact that players and coaches have to sit there and take the verbal abuse at the risk of being fined and/or suspended is appalling.

Hopefully, there will be solidarity amongst the players/teams. It also wouldn't hurt if the fans took more of a stand.

[ceile]

2. good.

UEFA needs to address the issue - long overdue.

[riderinthestorm]

4. Wonderful! Bravo! Its great to see a story of honorable men sticking up for what's right

This is how a sports team and the players are supposed to act.