Anti-racism campaigners slam Blatter over criticism of Kevin-Prince Boateng

Posted On Wednesday, 9th January 2013

Kevin Prince Boateng was racially abused by fans of fourth-place side Pro Patria

Anti-racism campaigners have reacted angrily to Fifa president Sepp Blatter over his criticism of AC Milan footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Boateng was widely applauded for his decision to leave the pitch during a friendly match at Pro Patria last week after being subjected to racist chanting from a section of the home fans.

However Blatter claimed the player was wrong to “run away,” an assertion that was given short shrift by Piara Powar, the executive director of anti-racist campaign group Football Against Racism in Europe (Fare).

Powar told The Guatdian: “We disagree entirely with the idea that Kevin-Prince Boateng ran away from the Milan match in which he was subjected to racial abuse. It’s a nonsensical suggestion.

“What does Sepp Blatter know about what it is to be abused or excluded because you are an ethnic minority, and what might be the right or wrong way to respond?

“The point is that the hard-won processes put in place to deal with issues of discriminatory abuse, that apply from referees all the way up to international disciplinary commissions, are not being implemented.

“There seem to be so many statements being made off the cuff by football administrators on important issues of policy that are ill-thought out. The message going out is one of indifference by governing bodies at all levels.”

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi echoed Powar’s sentiments, saying of Blatter’s remarks: “I am of the opposite view. In fact, I thanked and congratulated my players for their decision to leave the field during the friendly in Busto Arsizio.

“This is an uncivilised problem that needs to be stopped, people should not allow these things to happen.

“Teams out on the pitch should set an example of civility and the educational role of football should not be underestimated.

“It’s not only about the behaviour of players in the game, but of the public, and everyone needs to avoid giving Italy a negative image.”

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READERS COMMENTS

Asante says:

January 9, 2013 at 7:35 am

Blatter must reseign,what sort of nonsense is this

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'Halfcaste' says:

January 9, 2013 at 8:44 am

You see Kevin was discriminated because of his colour. Still racism is still present in Ghana today. In Ghana ‘Halfcaste’ Ghanaians are continuedly ‘white’. It is humiliating, because it denies us the fact to be Ghanaian. And also, it is clearly untrue. We’re not white. But still you Ghanaians call us like that. Can a full-blooded Ghanaian tell me why you guys do that?

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'Halfcaste' says:

January 9, 2013 at 8:45 am

*continiuedly calling us ‘white’

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selfmade says:

January 9, 2013 at 4:37 pm

Blatter is a fucking white premature pig!! He is a son of a fucking white pig and dick sucking mother!!! We Africans are also fools because during fifa elections,instead of us punishing these fucking white racist pigs,the stupid son of bitch,that small dick hayatou,ll allied with the serial racist pig called blatter,given Africa vote to him !! I don’t understand why Ghana which has the pioneer of black emancipation and struggle,ll still always vote for hayatou during caf elections!!! Damn,i feel so sad how we have sold our seniority to common hayatou!!! Is about time we all open our fucking eyes!!! Now to kevin boateng,it servers him right that no matter your skin colour,if u have even a little melanin in your hormones,they ll never considered you as them!!! No matter how u dye your hair brown,putting on those fake ices and no matter the no of tattos and extended beauty u applied to yourself,u ll never be them!!! They ll see u as a little monkey!!! Wonderfully,no matter how many italian pussies u fuck,u ll never be them!!! We all in the same boat and u went ahead to betrayed Ghana which accepted u as a true son!!! Kpb,yours is even more pathetic because now whites don’t want u and blacks don’t want u too!!!! Wise up!! Viva the revolutioncioooooo

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