Rooney Calls for Tougher Sanctions Against Racism in Football
Wayne Rooney, English football legend and former Manchester United captain, has spoken out against the racism that continues to affect the sport. In his new podcast, Rooney shared his thoughts on how to effectively address this problem, proposing more forceful measures to eradicate discrimination.
Rooney recounted a moving episode experienced during his time at DC United, where a player suffered racist insults and sought comfort in him. “I hugged him while he cried on my chest,” Rooney recalled, emphasizing the emotional impact that these acts have on the victims. “People don’t realize… but this hurts people. More must be done to stop it.”
The former footballer suggests that harsher sanctions, such as deducting points from clubs, are crucial to deter racism. Furthermore, Rooney highlights the importance of education as a fundamental tool to prevent future incidents.Antoine Semenyo suffered racist insults at Anfield during the opening day of the Premier League.Rooney emphasizes the need for a comprehensive educational campaign that involves society as a whole, from children to grandparents. “We have to impact the clubs, because that’s the only way to stop it. If there is ignorance, the fans will keep doing it. We have to punish the clubs by deducting points or taking away money. Otherwise, it will keep happening.”
Rooney’s call comes at a time when racism remains a concern in football. Recently, incidents were recorded in which Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo was allegedly the victim of racial abuse by a spectator in a match against Liverpool, and Tottenham’s Mathys Tel received online insults after missing a penalty in the Super Cup.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino called two incidents of alleged racist abuse that marred German Cup matches “unacceptable,” as German police investigate.
Infantino’s comments came a day after Schalke’s Christopher Antwi-Adjei claimed to have been subjected to racist insults in a cup match at Lokomotive Leipzig. He was booed by fans throughout the match after reporting the incident to officials. In another incident, a Kaiserslautern substitute was subjected to racist insults while warming up in a match at RSV Eintracht, according to the team’s coach, who did not name the affected player.
