Global Watch – Say No to Racism-Discrimination in all Sport – has taken note of disturbing reports regarding an alleged racial abuse incident during a friendly match between Man-City’s under 21 and NNK Rijeka in Novigrad, Croatia. Global Watch has also taken note of Manchester City’s Management statement in support of the walkout action.
Mr. Tokyo Sexwale, Founder and Co-Chairman of Global Watch stated: “All forms of discrimination, especially racism, must be condemned by all right-thinking people globally without any equivocation. However, Global Watch contends that mere condemnation – as has been occurring in many instances – is by itself inadequate, and in some instances has become mere lip-service with the hope that the matter will proceed no further. This ought to change.
"Racism is a crime. People should be aware that the world, through the United Nations, has described racism – (apartheid) – as a crime against humanity and a threat to world peace. The racial insulting, denigration and humiliation of others is dehumanising and should be regarded as a horrible offence to be treated with more than a slap on the wrist and not as some kind of a joke. People are hurting and feel victimised for being who they are, their cultures or where they emanate from.”
The Man-City under 21s, in having taken a strong moral stance, have shown courage, and join the likes of other youngsters, such as Nymar who took a stand in support of his Barcelona teammate, and Dani Alves against whom bananas were thrown, shockingly depicting him as a subhuman.
Global Watch understands that walking off the field of play is an act of desperation which is potentially recurrent if racists – players, fans, administrators, officials and so on – are not stopped in their tracks. The future belongs to the young. In order to bequeath a non-racial world to them racism-discrimination must be fought relentlessly.
Therefore, in the forthcoming November Global Summit in Johannesburg hosted by Global Watch, this topic shall be high on the agenda, leading to the adoption of a Global Charter strengthened by a Global Barometer towards the elimination of this scourge from all sporting fields worldwide.
In the interim, Global Watch as an interested party, shall be engaging with the relevant authorities to get to the bottom of the Novigrad incident with a view to arrive at educative, preventative or punitive measures.