The weekend of April 3 and 4 has seen more reports of racism across football with a Valencia walk-off summing up a sense of bewilderment at just what is happening within football.
Valencia Walk-Off Amid Cadiz Racism Row
Temporary Pause to La Liga Match
There was a 20-minute halt to proceedings in the match between Cadiz and Valencia following a clash between Juan Cala of Cadiz and Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby. Diakhaby was booked for his angry confrontation with Cadiz’s Fali and then walked off down the tunnel with his teammates following him from the pitch with the game tied at 1-1.
Valencia tweeted that they would return to the pitch and later tweeted to say that Diakhaby has the full backing of the club after the alleged racial slur from Cala.
Cadiz did not offer any explanation other than on Monday, April 5 to say that their player would make a statement to the press after the clubs’ Tuesday morning training session.
The allegations are extremely serious and once more cast a shadow over football across the world.
West Bromwich Albion Report Racist Abuse
West Bromwich Albion’s two-goal substitute in the 5-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was sent racist messages via social media following the game, as reported by BBC Sport.
Callum Robinson reported the messages to the club who have now lodged a formal complaint to West Midlands Police with the club stating through their website that they will be “seeking the toughest available legal punishment.”
The messages were sent to the player via Instagram and Robinson has now joined a growing list of players that have been racially abused via social media. Marcus Rashford and Chelsea’s Reece James have both been subject to abuse and it is a worrying trend that does not seem to be abating despite numerous campaigns to raise awareness of discrimination such as Kick it Out.
Tottenham Hotspur Urge Social Media to Take Action Following Davinson Sanchez Abuse
Tottenham Hotspur’s Columbian defender Davinson Sanchez was another player subjected to racist abuse online when he was sent a series of tweets. Sanchez shared the images on his Twitter account adding his comments that ‘nothing changes’ before Tottenham sent out a strongly worded tweet demanding that social media starts to take action for this trend of racist abuse.
Valencia Walk-Off and Player Abuse Demonstrates Worrying Trends
Whilst some of the claims of racist abuse are, at this stage, still allegations, the trend for online abuse is showing no signs of being stamped out as faceless prejudice continues to rise. Not a week goes by without another case of discrimination being meted out to a player who has had a bad game or a great game to cost an opponent points.
When it happens on the pitch, as in the alleged case with Valencia, then officials and other players need to be vigilant for what is being said on the field and there needs to be a no-tolerance attitude to any kind of discriminatory remarks and behaviour.
Social media is, however, an entirely different beast that is seemingly not being policed very well, not being policed at all or those that have a duty to police social media are doing nowhere near enough to stamp out what is an awful indictment on football and society in general.
Players’ mental health and wellbeing is constantly being pushed to their limits with these appalling incidents and there is so much more that needs to be done if football is to kick discrimination out of the game for good.
Main Photo
