By Edward Gyasi, GNA
Accra, May 03, GNA – Former Black Stars player Mr. Augustine Arhinful, has described the Italian Football Federation (IFF), decision to ban Sulley Muntari as disrespectful to the people of Africa.
Muntari, walked off the pitched after, he was racially abused by supporters when his side, Pescara locked horns with Cagliari on Sunday afternoon.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Italian FF, has punished Muntari, with one match suspension for walking off the pitch.
According to the Committee, the reports of the referee said that, the racist chants were coming from only ten people, which is less than one percent of the people at the stadium and they do not represent the entire supporters of Cagliari.
In an interview with the GNA Sports, Mr. Arhinful, said that it is inappropriate for the IFF, to say that only ten people were chanting therefore they should not be punished.
“Their decision is highly disrespectful to Africans, even if only one person racially abuses somebody, he deserves to be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
“Are they saying that the entire supporters should chant and whistle before they are punished?
“The chants never stopped and that was why Muntari got annoyed.
“This always happen in Italy and is about time they did something to stop it, it is getting better in Germany and England.
“Muntari was right to have complained to the referee, it was the job of the referee to stop the game and inform the stadium announcer who would then warn the supporters. The referee didn’t take any action but to punish Muntari who is the Victim.
“Africans must stand together to fight racism, with issues like this it is the duty of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to write to UEFA or the Italian FF for them to take the necessary precaution. We must stand together always, they must respect us.
“I don’t know when racism would stop maybe in the next world, I played a match in Italy and I was racially abused in the entire 90 minutes, it was worse when I joined Grasshopper Zurich, racism is not healthy for football and it has to stop”. Mr. Arhinful said.
GNA
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