“To designate someone by their skin color is no”: Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu welcomed the unanimous reaction of the players in the PSG-Basaksehir match on Wednesday. Tuesday evening, after an indescribable mess on the grounds of the Parc des Princes, the 22 returned to the locker room after an altercation deemed racist targeting one of the trainers of the Istanbul team, the former Cameroonian international Pierre Achille Webo.
In the process, players, artists and officials engaged with messages rejecting racism, Kylian Mbappé gave his support to Webo. On social networks, a black and white poster proclaiming “No to racism” has flourished again, relayed by the accounts of PSG player Presnel Kimpembe or actor Omar Sy, who matched it with a series of raised fists of all the colors.
SAY NO TO RACISM. ❌❌❌
M.WEBO WE ARE WITH YOU. ✊????
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 8, 2020
Former leader of PSG, Michel Denisot welcomed a “Historic and exemplary decision” bringing his “Absolute support” to both teams.
Absolute support for both teams #PSGIBFK historic and exemplary decision. @PSG_inside @ bfk2014
– Michel Denisot (@michel_denisot) December 8, 2020
“I was proud to see this in football and happy to be able to explain the concept of non-discrimination to my children through football”, Roxana Maracineanu told France Info. “I did not hear racist remarks as such, but there are nonetheless corroborating testimonies”, explained Marlène Schiappa on Europe 1 which “Welcomes the fact that the players, in solidarity, have decided to leave the field”. “It’s very strong, assures the Secretary of State. They send us a message saying: ‘racism should not be the concern of the person concerned only, but the concern of everyone’. “
For their part, the Turkish authorities rushed into the breach as soon as the match was suspended, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, not hesitating to talk about “crime against humanity”. “I strongly condemn the racist remarks made against Pierre Webo, member of the technical staff of Basaksehir, and I am convinced that UEFA will take the necessary measures”Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.
A human being should not be defined only by his skin color. FC Lausanne-Sport stands up against all forms of racism. ✖️
This struggle concerns us all.
????????????????????????????????#NOTORACISM pic.twitter.com/BWIJmrjktc– FC Lausanne-Sport (@lausanne_sport) December 9, 2020
In the 14th minute of the match, which was played in a closed stadium, Pierre Achille Webo would have heard the fourth referee of the match, Sebastian Coltescu, use the word “negro” – or “negru”, black in Romanian – in his place. Originally from Romania, the French Minister of Sports confirmed that it was the translation of the word “black” but “To refer to some by their skin color is just not acceptable, not heard. It is normal to react that way ”. At the end of the evening, faced with the refusal of the players to return to the field, UEFA announced the postponement of the match until Wednesday evening and the opening of a “Thorough investigation”. In a message posted on Twitter, the instance proclaims: “Racism and discrimination, in all their forms, have no place in football.”
Laure bretton
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