An Italian politician has responded to Everton’s anti-racism banner, which is to be displayed before the Manchester City game on Saturday.
It was announced earlier this week that Everton would be showing the large banner, that features Moise Kean’s face alongside the text ‘No Al Razzismo’ (No to Racism), prior to facing the Cityzens at Goodison Park.
Made by the County Road Bobblers, the banner aims to stand in solidarity with Everton’s summer signing Kean, who was subject to racial abuse in Serie A for Juventus last season.
There have been a number of incidents of racial abuse aimed at players across Europe this season, with several in the Premier League drawing attention, while Italy have also yet to deal with the disgusting trend in a manner deemed acceptable by plenty of players and observers.
Everton’s banner has been well-received by many, seen as a necessary step in the right direction to continue raising awareness and supporting anti-racism charities such as Kick It Out.
However, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Carlo Sibilia, was no such a fan of the movement. Sibilia assured the public that work was being done to fix the racism problem in Italian football, but he also offered a needless parting shot at Everton in the process of making his final comment. As reported by Irpinia Times (via Sport Witness), Sibilia said:
…Even today, these issues are highly topical and require a synergistic commitment between the various ministries and the sports federations. Sport must bring out the best in Italy, not the worst.
I really don’t feel like taking lessons, among others, from Everton fans. We are better than that.
Read Everton Verdict
This is a bizarre and quite frankly blood-boiling situation. For the undersecretary to essentially belittle Everton’s efforts to do something that seemingly very few people in power are willing to do in Italy, it reeks of a lack of support for the anti-racism cause and a total refusal to counter the problem.
Everton fans raised money through crowdfunding to show one of their own players, who is only 19-years old, that fans of the club that he represents will not abuse him on the basis of his skin tone. Everton’s stance is one that implores other clubs to take up the same position, until racism can be eradicated from society, however long a process that might be.
Everton aren’t trying to preach to the choir, they’re trying to do their part to combat a growing problem that isn’t being tackled hard enough. Sibilia’s chastising comments make me angry because they miss the point of the message so much, but mostly they make me glad that Kean has decided to leave Serie A.
The Premier League isn’t perfect, racism is still prevalent and the FA have a long way to go until they can rectify their own problems, but the English league systems are better than the destructible mess of the Italian top flight.
