Leon Balogun Calls for Collective Fight against Racism

Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, has said that tackling racism is a collective responsibility and that more ‘extreme punishments’ are needed.

The 31-year-old Brighton defender also supports players walking off the pitch, but admitted it is only part of what needs to be done.

Balogun wants those not being targeted on the pitch to fully support their team-mates who feel that leaving the pitch is their only option, so that not too much pressure is put on the individuals.

“It’s like they are afraid because the manager might say ‘if you don’t want to play, even though you might be an important player to us, we can replace you’ and so that’s something you will think about at least twice,” Balogun told BBC

Africa.

“That is what a team is supposed to be. We are a family. We are walking off [together], this would empower so many players who are racially abused because that way they then wouldn’t feel alone.”

Balogun says in order to get the message across, fans who do not take part in the abuse must also get involved in the battle against racism.

“You really take away what they love so much so that they understand we need to rethink here for a minute,” he explained.

“So it will also affect people who are not involved in the racial abuse of the players.

“People who just happen to be in the stadium and they will be like ‘wait a minute’, those ones, let’s call them idiots are taking away what we love, what we are passionate about.”