Racism is a dangerous and infectious virus, strengthened by indifference and inaction... Boateng makes impassioned speech to UN



AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng today delivered an impassioned speech at the United Nations as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.



Boateng stood up against racism at the start of this year after he, and his Milan side, walked off the pitch during a friendly against Pro Patria after being abused by sections of the crowd.

In response to repeated abusive chants from a section of the crowd on January 3, the former Tottenham and Portsmouth player kicked the ball into the supporters before leading his team-mates off the pitch.

Boateng's stand resulted in the abandonment of the match and sparked fresh debate on the problem of racism in football, with the 26-year-old set to meet FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Zurich on Friday to discuss the issue further, having criticised the governing body for not doing more to tackle it.



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Making a stand: Boateng (left) with Patrick Vieira and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay Support: Boateng's other half Melissa Satta was in attendance at the event in Geneva

'When I left the pitch against Pro Patria, I know it wasn't the right decision but at that moment I was very angry and very emotional,' he told Blatter, according to a FIFA statement.



'I spoke to the referee about it very early on, but after 26 minutes I just lost it and walked off the pitch.



'It shouldn't be the decision of the player, though. I think that referees should perhaps have more power in this area and they should take their courage in their own hands.

'But it's not easy and I realise that.'

Boateng, who played for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup but later quit international football, said he and Blatter discussed the matter of sanctions, including points deductions, for teams whose supporters are guilty of racist behaviour.

'I'm a player and so I know that a points deduction might not go down well," said Boateng. "But we need to be very strict in this domain and, if there are rules, we have to apply them. We absolutely need to have a real threat of sanctions.'

'I think we can change it. It is not only the task force, even ordinary people can help. The media, everybody has to work together.'



Bulgaria and Hungary were set to play World Cup qualifiers behind closed doors on Friday for racist and discriminatory behaviour respectively by their supporters at previous matches, but Blatter agreed that stronger sanctions were needed.

'I don't think games behind closed doors or financial sanctions are effective,' he said.



Patrick Vieira on Twitter...

We need to have these open and honest discussions, and we need people to listen so we can #FightRacism. Speak up. It was an honour to meet the high commissioner today. We really can make a difference #FightRacism @UNrightswire I've been with @kpbofficial and @UNrightswire talking about how we can #FightRacism today. Proud to be part of it.

'In my opinion, we need to deduct points or even eliminate a team from a competition. It's tough, and not everybody will agree, but it's the only way to seriously intimidate and stop the troublemakers.'

'Unfortunately, our extremely popular sport - which involves nearly a billion people throughout the world - is affected by several scourges: violence, cheating, doping, match-fixing and discrimination,' he said.

'At FIFA, we try to tackle all of them, but the question of discrimination angers me in particular. It's abhorrent and we have to combat this evil, but it's difficult to find the adequate response.'



Kick it out: Boateng has called on governing bodies and all those involved in football to facilitate change

VIDEO Watch Kevin-Prince Boateng's speech against racism at UN

On Thursday, the former Ghana star addressed the UN in Geneva, saying: 'Madame Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, esteemed colleagues and experts, ladies and gentlemen.

'What we have just seen on video occurred on January 3 at Busto Arsizio in a friendly match between my club Milan and a Fourth Division side.



'I decided to stop the game and kick the ball into the stands as I felt profoundly angry and offended by the racist insults directed at me from the stands.



'That gesture alone would not have had any particular resonance. My team-mates, however, immediately followed me off the pitch without a moment's hesitation.



'The fact the entire team had taken such an equivocal step against racism made news headlines the world over. That's why I'm here today. It's an honour for me to have the chance to speak here today.



Target: Racist thugs continually abused Boateng in a mid-season friendly 'Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the year 2013 and racism is still amongst us and is still a problem.

'It's not simply an argument for the History Channel or something that belongs to the past or something that only happens in other countries.

'Racism is real, it exists here and now. You can find it on the streets, in your office and in football stadiums. 'There have been moments in my life when I didn't wish to face the problem. I tried to ignore it as if it was a headache that would sooner or later go away. I just had to wait.

'That, however, is an illusion. It won't go away by itself. We have a duty to face racism and to fight it.



'The concept "a bit racist" doesn't exist. There are no tolerable quantities of racism. It's unacceptable regardless of where it happens or the form that it takes.



'It's also something that goes beyond black and white. There are many different types of racism from people of different colours and nationalities.



'There is no vaccine to fight this and no antibiotics to take. It's a dangerous and infectious virus which is strengthened by indifference and inaction.



'When I played for Ghana, I learned how to fight malaria. Simple vaccines are not enough. You also have to dry out infected areas where the carriers proliferate. I think that racism and malaria have a lot in common.

'Stadiums can be places where people of different colour come to support their teams or they can be seen as stagnant areas where healthy people will be infected by racism. We can't allow this to happen before our very eyes.



Unique position: Boateng hopes his status as a footballer can be used beneficially in the fight against racism

'Football stadiums, like other places, are full of young people. If we don't fight the stagnation, many

of those who are healthy today, could become infected with one of the most dangerous diseases of our time.



'Those of us constantly in the public eye have more responsibility. We can't allow ourselves to be indifferent or passive.



'Many sportsmen like myself and my team-mates, artists and musicians all have unique chances and responsibilities to make themselves heard. We have the possibility to reach the parts that political speeches will never reach.



Highest honour: Boateng met former South Africa leader Nelson Mandela in 2010 'History shows us how important the contributions of famous athletes can be. I can say that the fact that the President of America shares my skin colour, has something to do not only with Martin Luther King, but also Muhammad Ali. 'One of the most intense and moving moments of my life to date was when I met Nelson Mandela during the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. An incredible man, both in subtlety of mind and character.

'His life has shown that making your voice heard against racism is less dangerous than remaining mute.

'It's just as important to stand up to racism today as it was in the past. We have to find inspiration from those who have risked their lives for the cause.

'I'm convinced that it would be a fatal error to believe that we can fight racism by ignoring it and hoping that it'll go away like a headache. This won't happen.

'In any moment when our paths cross with racism we have the duty to rise and to act. Thank you for listening.'