The decision by the Russian Football Union to ban an African footballer, Gabonese midfielder Guelor Kanga on the books of FC Rostov for three matches for having shown an offensive gesture towards fans who racially abused him, calls for serious scrutiny.
The footballer, who happens to have a darkish hide, was a constant target of monkey chants by racists Spartak Moscow fans in the Russian Premier League.
Kanga responded by showing these sick-minded blokes the middle finger. His action did not exactly go down well with Russian football authorities, well known for turning a blind eye on racism.
The three-match ban, in addition to the US$930 fine meted to the defenceless player while Spartak got away with just a gentle slap on the knuckles in the shape of a paltry US$1,300 for their fans’ racist chants, which were put down as mere “swearing”, is testimony that racism is rife in Russia.
Yours truly is shivering like a fired up “Boere Orkes’ from the mere thought that this is the country that has been given the hosting rights to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event in global sports. It’s time for football leaders from our continent to stand up and be counted.
Africa must withdraw its representation at the global showpiece, the next FIFA World Cup in Russia in solidarity with fellow blacks that are so freely being emotionally tortured and abused through the sharp tongues of racist Russians.
Yaya Toure’s issue is another case in point! Even some coaches who are supposed to help fight and eradicate the scourge of racism in global football are now uttering unprintable phrases about non-European footballers attached to their own teams.
Although racisms remains a burning issue in global football, countries like Russia and their cronies should take a leaf out of England’s book, the implementers of the spherical object, or rather the beautiful game, as dubbed by the greatest of them all, Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, aka Pele.
The English are tackling the issue of racism with bare knuckles as can be attested by the fall from grace of former England and incumbent Chelsea captain John Terry, and others who have had their international careers cut shot for what could be described as “minor” offences in comparison to what is going on in Russia.
Is it not perhaps time for all dark skinned sportsmen and women, irrespective of their country of origin to throw their weight together and cut all ties with nations such as Russia in protest against the accelerating issue of racism? I’m just asking.
Staying put on the spherical object, recent tales about football teams in our country’s topflight league short-changing the real McCoy’s of the game, the players, are scary and uncalled for, to say the least.
Talk of players silently complaining about late payment and all that sort of Jazz are becoming embarrassing, so to speak. This is not only an embarrassment to the fingered teams’ supporters and the entire football fraternity, but these shenanigans have the potential to bring the game of football into disrepute.
The buck stops with league authorities, the NPL should introduce hard and fast rules that will prevent teams from exploiting players. They should hit them where it hurts most and the only suitable punishment is to dock points from teams defaulting on players’ payment FINISH AND KLAAR!
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and drive safely. Please keep a healthy distance from the “Haya Water of Moag” while negotiating the sticks. I rest my case.