No matter how advanced we get, there will always be these backwards elements holding us back. Some parts of the world would never be rid of racism, Russia, Italy, and redneck country in America easily comes to mind.
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong got sent off in a Russian Premier League game after pointing his outstretched middle finger at the crowd with that beloved, universally acclaimed gesture.
The crowd, supporters of Spartak Moscow who were hosting Frimpong’s FC Ufa, had been directing monkey chants at the Ghanaian player. The Black Stars midfielder lost his cool and gestured at the crowd to f*ck off.
He received a red card for his troubles.
Worse, his own club even refused to support him. The General Manager is quoted to have said “What Frimpong did was wrong. Sometimes you even have to hold back the tears and just put up with it.” He might have a point if Russian fans were not notoriously racist, and action is never taken against them.
Yesterday, the GFA released a statement condemning the whole affair. They condemned Frimpong’s club for criticising their own player whilst not issuing a single word in condemnation of the racist fans.
“The racist and discriminatory incident, which took place on Friday night, was apparently perpetrated by some Spartak Moscow supporters who directed monkey noises at Emmanuel Frimpong who plays for UFA.
“While we do not condone Frimpong’s reaction to the racist abuse he suffered, it beats our imagination that his club UFA criticised the Ghanaian player without condemning the Spartak Moscow supporters who provoked him with this despicable racist abuse.
“The act of singling out Frimpong for criticism, when he was clearly provoked by these money chants while the perpetrators of the act have been let off, indelibly stain football’s tenets and principles.
“Such actions only serve as ammunition to the perpetrators of this crime to return to the stadia to subject black and African footballers to more racist abuse.”
Abused..and yet we going to hold a World Cup in this country where African will have to come play football I must stressed not all Spartak
— EMMANUEL YAW FRIMPONG (@IAMFRIMPONG26) July 17, 2015