[ 2013-01-06 ]

I'd walk off again: Kevin-Prince Boateng on racist chanting
Kevin-Prince Boateng says he would walk off the
field again if subjected to racist abuse.

Boateng's AC Milan side walked out of a friendly
after he was subjected to racist chants by fans of
Italian lower division club Pro Patria.

In an interview with CNN, Boateng, 25, said: "I
don't care what game it is - a friendly, Italian
league or Champions League match - I would walk
off again."

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi praised Boateng for
his stand against racism.

Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, had
earlier stated that Milan would take the same
stance in any other game, including European
matches.

He said in a statement: "I called Kevin-Prince
Boateng a little while ago and congratulated him
for his reaction against the disgraceful episode
of racism that took place in Busto Arsizio.

"I am very happy with Milan's reaction and be
assured that in all games where we experience
episodes of this kind, Milan will leave the
field."

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the
Professional Footballers' Association, has warned
players they could find themselves in trouble if
they walk off before the referee decides to
abandon a match.

"Racist abuse should be reported to the match
officials by the player and team captain, and then
the crowd warned," said Taylor. "If the abuse does
continue then the officials should abandon the
game.

"The warning will also be an opportunity for
responsible fans to influence those who are
perpetrating the abuse."

Fifa and Uefa, the world and European governing
bodies of football, have previously warned against
players walking off the field of play.

In Busto Arsizio, a 20-year-old unemployed man was
reported to prosecutors for his alleged
involvement in the racist chants that caused the
friendly to be abandoned.

The man is said to have admitted to being part of
a group of fans who directed abuse at the
players.

Boateng, the German-born Ghana international who
previously played for Portsmouth and Tottenham,
has been widely praised for his action, which came
in the 26th minute of the friendly.

He said he was grateful for the solidarity he
received after leading the walk-off.

"I saw massive support from England and massive
players like Rio Ferdinand and Patrick Vieira, and
I want to say thank you. I'm sad and angry that
I'm the one that has to take action." he said.

Boateng said he complained to the referee three
times before he and his team-mates walked off the
field.

"I said to [the referee]: 'If it happens again I'm
not going to play any more.' The referee said
'don't worry' but I said 'I do worry, it's not
very nice'," he said.

"I was angry and I was sad, but it all came
together and I said I didn't want to play any
more.

"I'm surprised we're still hearing these things in
2013. It's not the first time in my life I've had
to hear or see things like this but I'm 25 and
don't want to take this any more."

His former team-mate Clarence Seedorf disagreed
with Boateng's actions, however.

The former Netherlands international said:
"Walking away? Yes, you send a signal. But this
has happened more than once and I don't think it
really changes all that much.

"We are just empowering that little group with
their behaviour to make this mess."

Tony Higgins, the spokesman on anti-racism for
Fifpro, the international footballers' union, said
that the union "fully understands and supports the
actions of Kevin-Prince Boateng and his
team-mates".

He added: "The players of Milan sent a clear
message: if racism does not stop, then football
will.

"We have to draw a line. Kevin-Prince Boateng is
also a human being. He is entitled to a working
environment free of violence, racism and other
forms of discrimination.

"Imagine yourself at work and someone standing
right next to you is constantly insulting you in
the worst way possible. Would you accept that?"

Source - BBC

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