Sterling slams Juve star for blaming victim of racist abuse

RAHEEM STERLING has again taken up the battle against racism in football, ridiculing Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci for claiming that a 19-year-old team-mate should take ‘50-50’ of the blame for being racially abused by fans. Moise Kean was subjected to monkey chants against Cagliari on Tuesday night, but after scoring the second goal at the Sardegna Arena he celebrated in front of abusive home fans. Bonucci said: ‘Moise shouldn’t have done that and the Curva (Cagliari’s fans) should not have reacted that way. ‘We are professionals, we have to set the example and not provoke anyone.’ Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri also criticised Kean. Sterling — who last week powerfully articulated the indignation felt by England’s players racially abused in Montenegro — provided a brief, robust response. ‘The blame is 50-50 @bonuccileo19,’ he posted on social media, alongside a number of laughing and applause emojis. ‘All you can do now is laugh.’ Yaya Toure described the Cagliari episode as ‘a disgrace’. He told the Equal Game conference organised by UEFA and the FA at Wembley that a more fundamental discrimination lay behind the prospects of former players like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o becoming managers. Italy is plagued by some of the most entrenched racism in Europe which the organisation Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) says is a product of a xenophobic political environment. ‘They’ve always had a problem with racism,’ said Piara Powar, executive director of FARE. ‘There are old issues, with crumbling stadiums, an Ultra fan culture in which the left wing have lost out to the right and centre. ‘The environment (for black players) has been made more hostile by politicians who characterise those who help immigrants as people traffickers.’ Kean’s former Juve teammate Parice Evra congratulated him for ‘standing up to them and showing them who is boss’. Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini defended Kean, saying: ‘I’ve seen the pictures of Moise and he didn’t do anything wrong.’ Bonucci responded last night with another post, saying he had been ‘misunderstood’ and adding: ‘I firmly condemn all forms of racism and discrimination.’