Madrid (AFP)
Athletic Bilbao player Inaki Williams said he was the victim of racist screams on Saturday during his trip to Espanyol Barcelona (1-1) for the 21st day of La Liga.
"I'm going a little sad, for the draw but especially because I was the victim of racist screams. This is something that a black player or of any origin does not want to hear. doesn't have to be at all, "said 25-year-old Inaki Williams at the club microphone after the game.
"People have to come to the stadium to have fun, cheer on their team, enjoy. It's a friendship, team sport," added the striker.
According to footage provided by Movistar La Liga, which was broadcasting the game, Williams was attacked by individuals when he left the field near the corner post in the 70th minute of the match. These individuals imitated monkey cries towards the attacker, who answered them with "sons of p ..." before returning to his bench.
"I am very sad that we can still experience racism in football today. We must put an end to all forms of racism. Thank you for your support," wrote the player on Twitter.
His club, Athletic Bilbao, gave him "all (his) support" on the same social network: "in front of any racist insult, tolerance 0", posted the Basque club.
La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation did not issue an official statement, but La Liga president Javier Tebas reacted on Twitter.
"Today we have taken a step back in the work started years ago. The violent incidents of Barcelona and Valencia, the racist insults to Inaki Williams are doing a lot of damage to Spanish football, La Liga takes responsibility, we will look with the clubs where the error is located ", wrote Tebas at the end of the afternoon, also evoking the brief clashes between ultras at the gates of the Mestalla stadium which enamelled the pre-match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona on Saturday.
The referee did not decide to stop the match between Bilbao and Espanyol Barcelona at Cornella on Saturday, unlike last December 16, where a Spanish second division match between Rayo Vallecano and Albacete had been suspended by the referee. with the agreement of the two clubs and of La Liga, for similar facts.
Part of the Rayo Vallecano supporters had chanted "Zozulya is a Nazi" in the first half, against the international center of Ukrainian Albacete Roman Zozulya, former Rayo.
© 2020 AFP