Just of recent, Ghana’s international footballer Muntari walked off the field after experiencing racists abuse. As a result, he was penalized with a match ban. The Italian Sports Tribunal imposed the ban on the Pescara midfielder for protesting against racist abuse during a game against Cagliari in the Italian topflight league, Serie A. Despite the global support he got from the footballing world, Serie A’s sporting judge decided that the punishment must stand.
After series of delibrations on the issue, the one-match ban imposed on Ghana’s Sulley Ali Muntari for protesting racist abuse has been lifted following an appeal lodged by the Italian Footballers’ Association. It was confirmed that majority of the Italians were against the racist act which led to the effected outcome.
Netherlands based professional footballers rights defence group, FIFPro tweeted that the ban had been overturned. With the latest development, Muntari will be automatically eligible to play Pescara’s home game against Crotone this Sunday.
The player walked off the pitch during the game last weekend after he was booked twice for speaking to the crowd after he alleged he was racially abused which got him a huge applause from anti-racism activists, current and former footballers and FIFPro – a group which protects the rights of professional footballers worldwide.
Many were excited with his act. They believed it was a good way to respond to a racist abuse. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein also applauded Muntari for his reaction. Some international footballers who had experienced such negative act during matches also applauded him.
In addition, Muntari’s team, who according to reports were not interested in appealing his ban. They believed he acted rightly. They awaited justice and justice saw served.
Also, Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Garth Crooks, urged black players in Italy to go on strike this weekend unless the ban was withdrawn, he believed the blacks had to support themselves on rightful issues, the campaign group said in a statement.
Over the years, it has been recorded that Italy and other countries have struggled to stamp out racist chants at games. In 2013, the AC Milan team left the pitch during a friendly in the town of Busto Arsizio after home fans insulted midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, another Ghanaian. The blacks are always the victims in this act.
Lifting the match ban has given a way to clear racism in the world. It has shown that there is hope for racial discrimination to be abolished. However, this can mainly be achieved by correcting the mind to see everyone as a friend. By doing this, there will be a world wide sustainable peace and development.
