LET’S STOP RACISM TOGETHER
Chelsea skipper Azpilicueta reported racist abuse of Rudiger to the ref... and calls on everyone to unite & defeat this scourge
CHELSEA skipper Cesar Azpilicueta has called for football to unite to stop racism after he reported shameful abuse of Anthony Rudiger yesterday.
The game at Tottenham was stopped by referee Anthony Taylor while he consulted with the managers and players.
An announcement over the public address system – repeated three times – said: “Racism from spectators is interfering with the game.”
With emotions running high, Gary Neville
was involved in a heated argument on Sky Sports about racism in politics fuelling the problem.
The latest incident follows England stopping their Euro qualifier against Bulgaria, an FA Cup tie abandoned because of racism and a fan arrested for abusing United’s Fred at the Manchester derby. Rudiger was targeted after a clash which saw Heung-Min Son sent off. Azpilicueta said: “It’s made very clear to us all that if we have heard any racist incident to report it.
“Tony came to me and told me he was listening to racist songs towards him, so I reported it to the referee. We’re very concerned and aware of this behaviour. Altogether we need to make it stop.
“I hope everything gets clear and we eradicate it as soon as possible. It‘s an issue not just in football but in life.”
Spurs will investigate and in a statement said: “Any form of racism is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our stadium. We shall take the strongest possible action against any individual found to be behaving in such a way, including stadium bans.”
Sky Sports pundit Neville said: “We’ve just had a general election where the leaders of both main parties are accused of fuelling racism and accepting racism in their parties. If it’s accepted in the highest office in the country then we aren’t talking at a micro level, we’re talking at an enormous level.”
Presenter David Jones said: “I am compelled to say those are the opinions of Gary Neville and not Sky Sports.” Neville (left) asked: “Do you not agree with them Dave?”
Jones responded: “Whether I do or I don’t is irrelevant. I’m here to try and hold a balanced debate.” Neville added: “That was balanced, I wasn’t accusing anyone of racism.”
Anti-racism group Kick it Out said: “We applaud the reaction of referee Anthony Taylor.”