Sulley Muntari: FIFA, UEFA "not taking racism seriously"

Ghana's Sulley Muntari takes on England midfielder Gareth Barry on March 29, 2011.
© Getty Images
Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari says that he would walk off the pitch again if he was being racially abused, adding that FIFA and UEFA are "not taking racism seriously".

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari has revealed that he would walk off the pitch again if he was racially abused by fans in the stands, adding that FIFA and UEFA are "not taking racism seriously".

The Pescara player, 32, was sent off after leaving the field claiming that he was racially abused during a Serie A game against Cagliari Calcio.

Muntari had the one-match ban overturned after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said that it had considered the "particular delicacy" of the case, but remains unhappy with how he was treated by the football authorities.

He told BBC Sport: "I went through hell, I was treated just like a criminal. I went off the field because I felt it wasn't right for me to be on the field while I have been racially abused.

"If I had this problem today, tomorrow or the next game I would go off again. And I'd recommend it to others. If they are not feeling it they should walk off.

"FIFA and UEFA only care about what they want to care about. If they want to fight racism they should be able to jump right in and tackle it. But they have nothing to say about it. This is a big deal.

"Maybe the new president Infantino will do something about it. He has a different mind. I think he is capable of doing something in a good way to fight racism. I want him to fight racism."

Italian football suffered a further blow to its reputation on Sunday after Juventus defender Medhi Benatia cut short a post-match television interview, claiming to have heard a racist insult in his earpiece.

Ghana's midfielder Sulley Muntari (C) celebrates with Ghana's striker Kevin-Prince Boateng celebrate during the 2010 World Cup QF match on July 2, 2010
Read Next:
Serie A to uphold Sulley Muntari ban
>
You May Like
Recomended from Sports Mole



Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CJuventus38294577275091
2Roma38283790385287
3Napoli38268494395586
4Atalanta BCAtalanta38219862412172
5Lazio382171074512370
6AC Milan381891157451263
7Inter Milan381951472492362
8Fiorentina381612106357660
9Torino381314117166553
10Sampdoria381212144955-648
11CagliariCagliari38145195576-2147
12SassuoloSassuolo38137185863-546
13Udinese38129174756-945
14AC Chievo VeronaChievo38127194361-1843
15Bologna38118194058-1841
16Genoa3899203864-2636
17Crotone3897223458-2434
REmpoli3888222961-3232
RPalermo3868243377-4426
RPescara3839263781-4418