Washington, Dec 9
Players have taken a knee, unfurled slogans and demanded tougher action only to find soccer — their working environment — remains infected with racism.The tipping point might just have come, with elite players in Paris taking the ultimate step by refusing to continue playing.At the end of a year of striking gestures against racial injustice and discrimination, the Champions League produced one of soccer’s most powerful shows of solidarity against racism when players from Paris Saint-Germain and Instanbul Basaksehir left the field and didn’t return.“The walk-off by both Basaksehir and PSG together lays down a marker in Europe,” Piara Powar, executive director of the anti-discrimination Fare network, told The Associated Press.“Many players are fed up with half measures to tackle racism and are more prepared than ever to exercise their right to stop a match,” Powar added.The flashpoint came on the touchline 14 minutes into Tuesday’s game when the fourth official — Sebastian Coltescu of Romania — was accused of using a racial term to identify Pierre Webo before sending off the Black assistant coach of Basaksehir for his conduct on the sidelines.“You are racist,” Basaksehir coach Okan Buruk said to Coltescu.An enraged Webo demanded an explanation from Coltescu, repeating at least six times: “Why you say negro?” The exchanges were broadcast live around the world from soccer’s biggest club competition.“Why when you mention a Black guy, you have to say ‘This Black guy?’” asked Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba, who is Black.It is the Fare network that helps the UEFA prosecute discriminatory incidents like Tuesday night’s alleged abuse at the Parc des Princes.
