Football besides being known as the number one sport has over the decades brought unity among the various nations around the globe in and outside the sports ground. Africans, Europeans Americans and Asians have blended to produce high quality soccer making fans of different cultures and races to join each other chanting the same slogan “we are the champions”

The quality of European soccer is of course the product of mixed talents from different races all over the world. The European final between Man United and Barcelona showed the beauty of a rainbow with internationals from all over the continent blending their talent to produce a Euphoric and an emotional European night. Messi from the Americas, Eto from Africa and Park from Asia, all shined as they contributed their touch on the final of the most prestigious tournament.

The game was still gaining its momentum when in the first 9 minutes, Eto broke the tension with his quick and superb goal commemorating the goal in a very controversially manner. I, personally, didn’t understand the meaning of his gestures as he was commemorating the goal pointing one hand on the other arm apparently showing up his skin. As I was not watching the game alone but with friends in a bar I asked to be enlightened on the meaning of his way of celebrating. As described by many I was made to believe that Eto was expressing his frustrations of racial discrimination in European football. His showing up his skin as been described by many as meaning.” look who’s scored, its me a black African”

Eto has suffered a lot of racial discrimination by football fans in the Spanish league. Recalling the incident that happened in a game against Real Zaragoza way back in February 2006 Etó was racially abused by Zaragoza´s fans chanting monkey noises when ever he touched the ball. These barbaric acts affected the player to an extend that he abandoned the  pitch but his former couch Frank Rijkaard  and team mates persuaded him back to the field. It is shame that such racist behavior is directed to players who are on the pitch to entertain the crowds making their tickets value, worth it.

We all know that very few football clubs have no mixed races, so it’s very unfortunate that some fans out there behave irrationally. The La Liga is a strong market base for talented players, black or white, with its fat remuneration package attracting best players from all over the world. It is this blend of different nations which has elevated and given sophistication to the Spanish league consequently increasing revenues of the clubs and contributing to the economy of the country. The players are revolted by the whole thing and are trying to help each other as team mates but something needs to be done before this get out of hand. Although Real Zaragoza was fined, football authorities in Spain must work to find solutions with the media playing a major role in curbing this habit.

Eto scores that goal and celebrates it in a somehow controversially manner. That reminded me of another incident in the semi finally game between Chelsea and Barcelona. When Ensieen, another African payer, strikes the net with that powerful volley he runs all the way apparently ignoring his playmates to give an aggressive hugs his colleague Mikael, a fellow African player who was on the bench. What was he trying to convey? Had it got anything to do with racial discrimination in European football? I personally don’t have the answer to that, after all, everyone has his way of interpreting things. The same can be asked of Eto What message was he trying to send? Was he really expressing his frustration of racial abuse? Some say he should be nominated for the best player of the world so he was sending a message meaning that, if it wasn’t for the colour of his skin he would be nominated for the footballer’s best player award.

I am not in liberty to draw conclusions on the real meaning of these ways of celebrating goals. What ever the significance, it is of course disturbing when the skin colour is now and again exposed in the pitch to send racist abusive messages. Whether one has been a victim of racism, the football ground is not the correct platform to make manifestations of political genre. In football the skin colour should not be recognized as a factor in achieving victories but the collective team work. It is this Team work that has made great football clubs. The French National team is a good example. In 2010 the world cup is coming to Africa for the first time and we hope this event will help break the racial barriers that exist especially among fans.

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Cenito Pinto wrote 6 articles on this blog.

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