Racism in Spanish football

Other than moments of pure genius as illustrated by the world’s greatest player Lionel Messi, the two most gifted football teams on the planet - Barcelona and Real Madrid - have both shown the very ugly side to the ‘beautiful game’.

Even before Real Madrid’s outrage claiming that UEFA will do nothing about the racial abuse that was clearly seen by Barca’s Sergio Busquet, aimed at Marcelo of Real Madrid, last week’s game was shamed by Real Madrid fans who, according to Radio 5 Live commentators, could hear gross monkey chants being hurled at the Barca player Daniel Alves by the home crowd in Madrid.

Racism in Spanish football is nothing new. Whether it is from the players, the fans or as we shockingly witnessed a few years ago from the then Spanish manager Luis Arogones. As he put it, he sought to inspire one of his Spanish player but telling him, ‘You’re better than that piece of Black sh…’ referring to Thierry Henry.  Arogones, for his sins was amazingly only fined 3,000 euro, and even refused to pay that.  

In Spain it doesn’t matter who you are either. Players that have lit up Spanish football, including Thierry Henry, Ronaldino and Samuel Eto have all been subject to extreme Spanish racism.

Eto received such levels of abuse in 2006 whilst playing for Barcelona that he wanted to leave the pitch and no longer play.

Again the offending team - Real Zaragoza - was fined a poultry 9,000 euros, which is less than a minutes pay for a top professional.

Spanish football is in deep denial of its racism - which if you are Black and or care about decency - overshadows a game that brings pleasure to so many.

We know that the Spanish authorities will do nothing to combat racism in their football, primarily because they deny it exist in the first place, but UEFA?

With the former French player Michel Platini at the helm one would have thought he would have a better understanding on racism. One thing is for sure, OBV will be writing to UK representatives to make a formal complaint on behalf of Britons in this country.

Watch this space.

Simon Woolley