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Tag Moussa Marega

  • Feb, Tue, 2020
Sport

Vitoria Guimaraes launch investigation into Marega racist abuse

Investigation
London, Feb. 18, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes on Tuesday launched their own investigation and released an anti-racism video after FC Porto striker Moussa Marega was subjected to racist insults at their stadium.

Marega was insulted during a league game on Sunday.

Vitoria said in a statement vitoriasc.pt/pt/news/index/view/comunicado-17-de-fevereiro-2020 that racism was a “problem of national dimension”.

Th club added that the problem was one from which government entities “cannot distance themselves with simplistic declarations of selective rejection and censorship.”

Political and sports authorities, including the league’s organising body Liga Portugal, had earlier condemned the incident, while the police began an investigation on Monday.

Mali forward Marega was abused by Vitoria fans throughout the match which FC Porto won 2-1, and he scored a 60th minute winner he celebrated by pointing at his skin.

He later posted a message on Instagram calling fans who targeted him “idiots” and also criticised referee Luis Godinho.

Vitoria’s president Miguel Pinto Lisboa said after the match that he “did not notice any racist insults.”

In the anti-racism video, club ambassador and former goalkeeper Neno and several first team players talk about Vitoria’s colours and values.

“Perhaps not many people know why Vitoria’s colours are black and white.

“Vitoria wears those colours as a reference to equality and inclusion of all, without race discrimination,” Neno says.

Vitoria said they were working with police to identify those behind the abuse.

Racist behaviour is punishable by up to five years in jail in Portugal and can also attract fines of up to 10,000 euros ($10,800).

“Racism is an act of betrayal of the club’s foundation.

“Vitoria does not accept that the good name and image of the club and its supporters to be put into question due to a criminal act which, instead of representing their way of being, feeling and acting, affronts them,” Vitoria said.

The club criticised Liga Portugal for allegedly ignoring Vitoria’s condemnation of the Marega incident while simultaneously promoting condemnation from other clubs on the organising body’s social media channels.(Reuters /NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Sun, 2020
Sport

FC Porto forward Marega walks off pitch after racist abuse

Racists
Porto (Portugal), Feb. 16, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) FC Porto striker Moussa Marega left the pitch in protest at being subjected to racist insults during his side’s 2-1 win away to Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal’s Primeira Liga on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Mali forward scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 60th minute.

He celebrated the goal by pointing to his skin in response to a section of the home fans who had targeted him throughout the match.

The player was shown a yellow card for the reaction and after the abuse continued he tried to leave the pitch, pointing his thumbs down to the crowd.

But he was restrained by his team mates for a number of minutes.

FC Porto coach Sergio Conceicao was eventually forced to substitute Marega in the 72nd minute.

“We are completely indignant,” Conceicao told reporters.

“They insulted Marega since the warm-up. We are all a family here, regardless of our nationality, skin colour, height or the colour of our hair and we all deserve respect.

“What happened here is outrageous.

“I know the fans here are very passionate about their club and many fans are not represented by some of the people who were in the crowd today.”

Marega later posted a message on Instagram calling the supporters who targeted him as “idiots”.

“I’d also like to show my thanks to the referee who did not defend me and who gave me a yellow card for defending the colour of my skin.

“I hope I never meet you on a football pitch ever again. You are a disgrace,” he added.

Porto’s director of communications Francisco Marques added on his own Twitter account: “Marega was fed up and left the pitch and FC Porto was forced to make a substitution due to racism.”

Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that no FC Porto players spoke to the media after the game in solidarity with Marega.

Vitoria coach Ivo Vieira said he did not want to comment on the incident as he was not sure about what had happened.

“I prefer not to speak about a situation without being aware of all the facts. But if the player was provoked, then he should not have been,” he said.

FC Porto are second in the Portuguese top flight, trailing leaders Benfica by a point after 21 games.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)