Bonucci: Racism is a scandal

By Football Italia staff

Leonardo Bonucci insists his controversial comments concerning Moise Kean were ‘misunderstood’ as ‘racism is a scandal and it mustn’t exist in 2019.’

Bonucci suggested Kean was partly to blame for the racial abuse he received during Juventus’ 2-0 win at Cagliari last week, prompting the football family to turn on the defender.

“Everyone was right to get annoyed,” he admitted to Le Iene.

“Racism is a scandal and it mustn’t exist in 2019. I’d say I was misunderstood.

“I apologise to those who have misunderstood me because my response wasn’t exhaustive enough. Having said that, I’m against racism 100 percent.

“I heard the boos and the tools are there to go and get the guilty parties and punish them fully.”

The most scathing criticism came from Kevin-Prince Boateng, Lilian Thuram and Mario Balotelli, who warned the 31-year-old was ‘lucky I wasn’t there’ at the time of his remarks.

“I’ve always loved Mario and I always will,” he continued.

“At that precise moment Boateng was right. I explained to him my desire that I was misinterpreted.

“I didn’t justify racism, only that I would’ve preferred Moise to have celebrated with us.

“I repeat: they’re all right. I love everyone, the same goes for Thuram. I also talked to him by phone.

“We talked to each other and I explained that I’d been misunderstood, but I’m 100% against racism. It should never be tolerated, on any occasion.”

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