Racism Can’t Be Eliminated From Football – Udeze
Ifeanyi Udeze, a former Super Eagles defender, has said racism can not be eliminated from football.
The defender, who featured for Kavala, PAOK, AEK Athens in Greece and West Bromwich Albion in England, said fans in Greece had pelted him with bananas and coins during a game and he almost got into a fight with them.
Udeze said despite all the campaigns against racism in the game, it will not stop as the scourge still exists outside the game.
“The most shocking thing for me in football was the day I faced racism in Greece. They were pelting me with coins and bananas and I was really angry. The referee had to halt the game. I pulled my jersey and I almost fought the fans. Any time I remember that day, I feel sad,” Udeze told The Punch.
“Racism will still remain no matter what people do. Nothing can be done to take racism out of football. As long as you walk on the streets as a coloured person and you’re still racially abused, then you’ll be racially abused on the pitch and sometimes by your teammates. So, it will be very difficult to take racism out of football.”
“Racism will still remain no matter what people do. Nothing can be done to take racism out of football. As long as you walk on the streets as a coloured person and you’re still racially abused, then you’ll be racially abused on the pitch and sometimes by your teammates. So, it will be very difficult to take racism out of football.”