Paris (AFP)
Former Malian international striker Frédéric Kanouté said Wednesday that he is "sure" that there will be "signs of solidarity" against racism during the Spanish championship games, which will resume Thursday with the derby between his ex-team, Seville FC, and Betis.
"I am sure that we will see signs of solidarity against racism (during matches in Spain) and above all that measures will be taken against racist acts, so that they are no longer tolerated as has been the case in several championships in the past, "said Kanouté, 42, during a videoconference with journalists.
In the Bundesliga, the only one of the five major European championships to have resumed to date despite the coronavirus pandemic, several players and teams have expressed their solidarity and their rejection of racism, by gestures or inscriptions on T-shirts or armbands in tribute to George Floyd.
The death of this 46-year-old African-American in late May in Minneapolis after being arrested by a white police officer, who supported a knee on his neck for more than eight minutes, sparked protests against racism in the United States and world.
"Of course, fighting racism is not just putting your knees on the ground when you score a goal or making small gestures like that. But everything is important and the main thing is that we commit also in this cause ", explained Kanouté, retired since 2013 and who is now one of the international ambassadors of La Liga.
"I am a child of immigrant origin and I grew up in France. It is impossible to have my skin color and never have suffered from racism, on and off the field," added the former. striker, born in the suburbs of Lyon and who made his professional debut with Olympique lyonnais.
During his years at Seville FC (2005-2012), with which he notably won two UEFA Cups (now Europa League) in 2006 and 2007, Kanouté experienced the warm atmosphere of the derbies against Betis.
"It is not possible to start with a better match. It is the best match I have lived. It is almost a symbol," he commented on the Andalusian derby which is played on Thursday at 22:00 local (20:00 GMT). The meeting will end three months of La Liga interruption due to a health crisis.
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